March 2 , 1950 - February 4 , 1983

Two things she will long be remembered for are her beautiful voice and the fact that her death brought national attention to anorexia, the disease that she battled for years and that lead to her heart failure and untimely death.

Initially, it was Richard who took an interest in music. Karen recalls, "While Richard was listening to music in the basement, I was out playing baseball and football, and playing with my machine gun! I was very tomboyish, quite a character, I hear! I remember I wanted to be a commercial artist, or a nurse, or an airline stewardess!" She laughed recalling these early ambitions, saying, "One, I can't stand the sight of blood; two, if I fly one more mile...!"

The Carpenters' debut album, Offering, was released in November of 1969 and featured their first single, a ballad version of "Ticket to Ride," which peaked nationally at #54. "Close To You," which would become Karen and Richard's breakthrough recording, took just six weeks to reach #1; it remained for four consecutive weeks. The song was the first of 17 Top 20 singles - ten of them Gold - for the duo that have now become standards, including "Superstar," "Rainy Days And Mondays," "Sing," "Top Of The World," and "Yesterday Once More." From "Close To You" in 1970 to "A Kind Of Hush" in 1976, Karen and Richard had a string of 16 consecutive Top 20 hits.


Over the following years, Carpenters became one of the most popular groups in history, selling to date nearly 100 million units worldwide. They toured internationally through the 70s, and their 1976 tour of Japan was the largest grossing tour in that country up to that point. Karen's voice is considered by many to be the finest and most expressive in popular music. She is praised for her control, sense of pitch, and the personal expression she introduced to a melody.

In the course of these days, the farthest thing from our minds and hearts has happened. No one can begin to express the sadness and sorrow that is felt here, and is being felt around the world: a spontaneous outpouring of love and grief for one of God's truly talented and gifted daughters who has died so young at 32 years of age......Rev. Charles Neal at Karen's funeral

"Karen had the rare gift of being able to touch all ages with her artistry..." Paul Williams, lyricist "It was a great voice. She was a great singer..." Burt Bacharach, Composer "Hers was a voice that brought happiness to millions and it will live with us forever..." A&M Records, 1983 "Greatest female singer in the world..." Jerry Weintraub, Manager "The attraction for me was the intimacy and warmth of Karen's singing: a strange, but seductive blend of innocence and meloncholia..." Robert Hilburn, L.A. Times 1983

Around 1974 Karen Carpenter began dieting. She wanted to get down to 105 pounds. It was the beginning of a seven-year battle with anorexia nervosa...

"... but I can't say that she was a typical example of a little girl with dolls. No: she was more into sports, she liked baseball very much...Oh, and of course music!"

"By 1965, the lower voice started to show itself. I have recordings which I won't let anyone hear because...oh boy, she would not be happy! If you heard it, you'd barely know that it's Karen: it's in tune and there is somewhat of the sound, but there is no vibrato, it's kinda 'nasal' and it's just in its embyonic stages. If anything it kinda sounds a little 'country'. But by the time we went into Joe Osborn's garage studio, it was definitely THE VOICE. I mean, she matured somewhat over the years, but the sound was there. She had a hit voice in 1966 by the time she was 16."

"But she loved her fame and she loved singing and the crowds and recording studios - she LOVED it."....Richard Carpenter


"We came out right in the middle of the hard-rock period...it was hard-rock everywhere! But we were ready to make our music, you know? And it was such a turnaround, I guess it caught people by surprise. And obviously a lot of people were waiting for something in that vein. Because Richard and I still believe you can have all kinds of music; it doesn't have to be just one kind." Karen

Fifteen years after Karen's death, Richard still continues to write, produce, and tour the world. He was on tour throughout Japan last year, and his new album is expected to be released here in North America very soon. He is also on the honorary board of ANAD--The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders... It offers hotline couselling to all sufferers.

Karen was laid to rest in Forest Lawn in Cypress, California.