Despite her English name, Carla Morrison is Mexican. Her father, Hilario Viera, ran away from Durango, Mexico as a young man and ended up in San Diego. Hilario was adopted by William Morrison, who in turn gave him his new surname.
Years later, Hilario returned to Mexico and married Porfiria Flores in Tecate where Carla was born. She received a high school education in Phoenix and pursued music studies at the University of Arizona. It wasn't until she reached high school that anyone realized she could sing, as she was extremely shy as a girl.