People witnessed the huge success of The Carpenters in the early 70’s. Richard and Karen become known as the siblings who shaped the music industry, particularly the sub-genre known as “Sunshine Pop.” But little did the world know that behind the fame and wealth, not everything was as it seemed. Read on to find out the story of the Carpenters.
As Kids
The siblings were born to Agnes Reuwer and Harold Bertram Carpenter. When they were young, Richard spent his time indoors listening to classical music and playing the piano, while Karen enjoyed playing outdoor sports with her peers. Their parents, however, saw that both of their children had a great interest in music despite their differences.
As Kids
Musically Inclined
Her parents weren’t sure which direction their daughter was to go in, so they tried different alleys. At the age of four she was already enrolled in a ballet and tap dancing class.
Musically Inclined
The Drums
The Carpenter family moved to California in 1963. There, Richard enrolled at California State College at Long Beach and further developed his interest in music. Karen enrolled at Downey High School and it was there that she learned how to play the drums. The first time the siblings played together was in a pit orchestra for a staging of “Guys and Dolls.”
The Drums
A Little Secret
Even though she was a stellar drummer, there was a secret reason she had pursued becoming that. The truth is that Karen didn’t want to attend early morning gym classes, so her ticket out was… yep, drums.
A Little Secret
Her First Set
Karen managed to convince her parents to buy her a “Ludwig drum set” for $300. Frankie Chavez played an important role in getting Karen introduced and interested in drumming. But Karen wasn’t just curious, she was a fast learner – she mastered the 5/4 in Dave Brubeck’s ‘Take Five’.
Her First Set
Trio
Richard, Karen, and Richard’s school friend Wesley Jacobs, formed a trio in 1965. They specialized in the Jazz genre. Karen played the drums, Richard was on the piano, and Wesley played the bass and tuba. Karen was an inexperienced singer at the time, but she began taking vocal lessons and gained the confidence necessary to perform.
Trio
Battle of the Bands
The trio signed a contract with RCA records after winning the Battle of The Bands at Hollywood Bowl in 1966. They were able to do several recordings but they were dropped by the label who did not believe the singles would be successful. Karen joined Richard at college in 1967 and the trio continued to record in Joel Osborn’s studio.
Battle Of The Bands
Small Time Job
Once Karen Carpenter finished studying in college, she looked for a job. She started out in the printing business, but it wouldn’t be long before she channeled her attention towards music.
Small Time Job
Karen Goes Solo
It was a late night at a garage session when Joel Osborn fell in love with Karen’s voice after she sang in front of him. He quickly signed her to Magic Lamp Records. Afterward, he signed Richard to the publishing branch Lightup Music. Karen released a single with backup from the Richard Carpenter Trio. Sadly, this proved to be a flop and the label had to drop her.
Karen Goes Solo
New Band
Karen and Richard formed a larger band with other Long Beach State musicians in 1967. They named the band, “Spectrum”. They sent demos to many labels in Los Angeles but none responded positively. Psychedelic rock was the popular genre at that moment and labels thought the music the band made was too mellow. Similarly, clubs refused to play their music because it was not something one could dance to. Spectrum disbanded just a year after its formation.
New Band
Duo
Jacobs left to join the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1967. Months later, the siblings began playing as a duo under the name, the “Carpenters.” They recorded demos that they would send to A&M records. They also performed in the ‘’All American College Show” at around the same time. Luckily, A&M Records decided to sign them for their unique sound in 1969.
Duo
Freedom
A&M opened many doors for the duo and allowed them a lot of creative freedom. They were able to compose their own music and lyrics. Richard was especially thrilled as he was the one who worked on composition. It did not take long before they began to work on an album.
Freedom
Mild Success
In 1969, they released their first album. Sadly, “Offering” received negative reviews and only sold 18,000 copies. Regardless, A&M Records continued to support the duo after a successful rebranding for the international market. They called it “Ticket to Ride” and sold 250,000 copies!
Mild Success
Unique Sound
The Carpenters’ music was different from the songs in the charts. Their music was influenced by The Mammas and The Papas and The Beach Boys but the duo also combined it with their own sound. The duo continued to create music until people finally began to realize their talent.
Unique Sound
Gold
After mild success, the siblings decided it would be best to create singles instead of a whole album. They remade the songs “Close to You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun”. Both singles were successful and the duo was finally on the path to stardom. They started touring and even appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show”.
Gold
Highs And Lows
Many fans have wondered what notes Karen managed to hit when she was pelting out her music. Well, for “A Song for You” she would touch a low D and below middle C, but for “Only Yesterday” she started on a low E flat and below middle C.
Highs And Lows
The Pres
The Carpenters were already international stars by 1972. The duo was invited to the White House and met James Cavanagh, Ken Cole, and Ronald Zeigler! Later in the same year, they were asked to come back to meet President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office. There are photographs that documented the memorable meeting.
The Pres
That’s Not My Name
The duo originally signed as “Carpenters, not “The Carpenters.” Unbeknownst to many, they have actually been miscalled the entire time. But why did they even choose the name? The duo actually thought that dropping articles were hip at the time. Bands like Jefferson Airplane and Buffalo Springfield did the same, after all!
Thats Not My Name
Playboy’s Vote
When Playboy conducted a poll of the best drummers, Karen came in first place. Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham was quite mad when he saw that and sneered, “I’d like to have it publicized that I came in after Karen Carpenter in the Playboy drummer poll! She couldn’t last ten minutes with a Zeppelin number.”
Playboys Vote
Lip Syncing
It’s not as uncommon as you might think for artists to lip-sync during a performance. Karen and Richard did so when they performed “Bless the Beasts and Children” at the Academy Award show in 1972.
Lip Syncing
A Big Performance
For the pair, their biggest performance came in the summer of 1971. The setting was the Ohio State Fair, and the concert brought in more than 50,000 people just for the single-night performance. They were hitting the big time.
A Big Performance
Fame
The Carpenters continued to release new songs such as “A Song for You”, “Horizon”, and “Now & Then”. They garnered so much attention that a rumor even began to spread that Karen was spending time with Elvis Presley! However, all of this fame came at a price.
Fame
A Break
It’s no secret that being famous is hard work. Richard began taking sedative drugs and needed to take a break in order to enter a rehab facility in Kansas. Karen, meanwhile, wanted to keep making music even without her brother. She had enough material to create a solo album, but labels did not like it and kept it under wraps.
A Break
Not A Fan
Karen was proud of her solo album and put a lot of heart into it. Sadly, a lot of people disagreed with her. Even Richard called it “too mature” for her age and said that the vocal range did not suit Karen. He went as far as to call the songs weak. Karen ended up blaming herself for the album’s failure.
Not A Fan
Her Struggles
As Richard was dealing with addiction, he came to realize that Karen was suffering from anorexia. However, the younger sibling denied the claims. The duo finally started recording again in 1980 and released an LP called “Made in America” in the following year. It sold 200,000 copies and “Touch Me When We’re Dancing” was able to reach the 16th spot on the Top 100 charts.
Her Struggles
Long Battle
At the time, not a lot of people were familiar with anorexia. The time of diagnosis was a difficult period for Karen. She had to undergo therapy and entered rehabilitation where she was forced to eat something. She lost more than 25 pounds in a single month when she was only drinking water and eating very little food.
Long Battle
Shows Cancelled
The duo’s fame held burdens, that much was obvious. At the height of their career, the duo was under a lot of stress. Karen was dieting excessively to catch up with the shows. In 1975, her illness became so severe and the pair had to cancel shows in Japan, the Philippines, and the UK.
Shows Cancelled
Seeking Help
Karen finally sought the help of Steven Levenkron, a psychotherapist based in New York City. Richard wasn’t happy with the way the professional was handling his sister’s case. Despite her brother’s disapproval, Karen continued to see Levenkron. However, she called him one day and reported that she was feeling unwell and that her heart was “beating funny”.
Seeking Help
Her Friends Said
Like so many celebrities, there was so much going on under the surface for Karen. Her friends remarked that she was fun-loving, caring and even goofy. But there was something else going on within her family that didn’t show from the singer who had an innocent obsession with stuffed animals.
Her Friends Said
Mommy Issues
Sadly the love that Karen shared with those around her was not always reciprocated by those who she expected love from. The greatest example was her mother, who was known to be a difficult and strict woman. Karen constantly felt the need to be accepted and loved by her mother.
Mommy Issues
Brother Issues
Although she and Richard were close and performed together, there were personal issues that were eating at her. Richard was supposedly a workaholic who couldn’t let Karen do anything without his supervision. She craved independence, especially since he decided when shows would occur or be cancelled.
Brother Issues
Walking To Her Death
Karen had a terrible habit of walking for miles and miles in an attempt to lose weight. Her doctor warned her against this and tried to encourage her family to get involved. But a phone call to the family would turn out to be worse than the doctor could have anticipated.
Walking To Her Death
Tension On The Phone
Due to the fact that Karen insisted on walking to her doctor, which was two miles away, her doctor placed a call to her family and simply asked, “Do you love Karen?” in an attempt to get them to help her. Her brother ended up crying on the phone and said that of course he does. Her mother on the other hand, blasted the doctor for asking such a personal question.
Tension On The Phone
Rushed To Hospital
Once he received the call, Karen was advised to go to a hospital. She did, but not immediately. Later that month, she was connected to an IV drip and Karen was able to regain 30 pounds in a matter of two months. She left in November after announcing that she was cured of the disorder. Everyone disagreed with the decision, but Karen was determined to check out of the hospital.
Rushed To Hospital
Off The Radar
After her release from the hospital, she jumped right back into Hollywood and under the spotlight. She attended the celebration of the 25th year of the Grammy Awards on January 1, 1983. That was her last public appearance. She would also return to the studio immediately.
Off The Radar
Not For Me
Earlier on, Karen admitted that she wasn’t looking for a relationship due to her busy schedule. She also said it was hard to meet someone when one works in the industry. However, close friends reported that she desired a partner and a family.
Not For Me
Surprise!
Despite the difficulties, Karen got her wish. She met real estate developer Thomas James Burris in the Beverly Hills Hotel in August 1980. Burris had an 18-year-old son from an earlier marriage and was nine years older than her, but Karen did not mind.
Surprise
A Perfect Suitor
Tom Burris was 39 years old, and he seemed like the perfect match, or at least Karen thought. Burris was attractive, nice, and very generous… but that would all come crashing down not long before they were to tie the knot.
A Perfect Suitor
Kids
Karen was allegedly desperate to have children of her own. Sadly, this would be impossible as Burris had gotten a vasectomy years prior. The news of his vasectomy came as a surprise to Karen as Tom didn’t mention anything until a short time before the wedding. Karen wanted out.
Kids
Calling Off The Wedding
Since having children was the most important thing in Karen’s life, she wanted to call off the wedding. But when she called her mother to relay the issue, her mother berated her and concluded that no such cancellation would take place. Her reasoning was that friends and family had already planned to come to the weeding. in addition, she told her daughter, “The invitations have gone out. There are reporters and photographers coming. People magazine is going to be there. The wedding is on, and you will walk down that aisle. You made your bed, Karen,” she told her. “Now you’ll have to lay in it.”
Calling Off The Wedding
The Mask He Wore
Even after they got married, Karen was determined to become a mother. She spoke with her new husband about making her dream come true, but she didn’t expect his reaction. He belittled her by saying that he would never even consider having children with a “bag of bones”. But the insults weren’t necessarily the worst of his brutal behavior.
The Mask He Wore
Careless Spending
At first everyone thought that Burris was as wealthy as Karen was. But soon she revealed the truth. Although he bought himself expensive cars and clothing, he was overspending his financial means. Evelyn Wallace tells of Burris, “It wasn’t long after they got married that he started asking her for money. He’d give her some excuse, and she’d give him the money. He’d ask for $35,000 and $50,000 at a time. Finally it got down to the point where all she had left was stocks and bonds.”
Careless Spending
Not A Happy Ending
Aside from the financial problems, Karen also suffered physical and emotional abuse from her husband. She took a stand by revising the contents of her will. She indicated that everything would go to her family upon her demise. After a public quarrel in a restaurant, the couple separated. Karen filed for divorce in 1982.
Not A Happy Ending
Helping Others
Unfortunately, Karen Carpenter died from heart failure and anorexia on February 1, 1983. Her death brought more awareness about eating disorders. The general public was shocked at her passing, but it helped educate about the dangers posed by anorexia and bulimia.
Helping Others
Ending In Divorce
What most people don’t realize about Karen Carpenter, is that the day she was supposed to sign the divorce papers, happened to be the same day that she died. She didn’t end up signing them.
Ending In Divorce
The Autopsy
After her death, Karen’s parents wanted an autopsy done to determine the exact cause of her death. The procedure revealed that she had taken large amounts of ipecac syrup which causes a person to vomit excessively.
The Autopsy
Nation Mourns
Karen was laid to rest on February 8, 1983. Over a thousand fans attended the funeral of this legendary musician. Close friends like Olivia Newton-John and Dorothy Hamill were also in attendance. Even Burris was present and placed his wedding band in the casket. And though they were not physically present at the interment, millions of fans across the globe mourned her death.
Nation Mourns
The Final Performance
Karen’s last public appearance took place on December 17th, 1982. The gig was done at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. Her performance of signing Christmas carols was done for her godchildren and their friends and classmates.
The Final Performance
A Movie
Karen Carpenter’s life was the subject of a CBS biographical movie called “The Karen Carpenter Story.” It showed her struggles with her disease, controlling family, and fame. The tribute even received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award.
A Movie
Flawed Facts
The movie might have been a tear-jerker, but there were some false truths in it. One example is the scene where Karen’s mother tells her that she loves her. The truth is that no-one has any recollection of her mother ever telling her that.
Flawed Facts
A Star
The Carpenters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 1983. The solo album was also released 13 years after her death. Karen may have passed away, but the duo’s music and influence survived the test of time and continue to make a difference in the world.
A Star
His Own Solo
Following the death of his sister, Richard Carpenter put his time and energy in putting together different compilations of the band’s music. It was in 1987 that he released “Time”, a solo album that featured the likes of Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick.
His Own Solo
Too Much Breath
During a private interview with Liberty Devitto, the session drummer for New York, he revealed something unique about Karen’s passion when it came to make beautiful music. While recording “Remember When Lovin’ Took All Night”, she recorded herself breathing heavily for the background vocals. She got so involved that she ended up hyperventilating and passing out!
Too Much Breath
Them Peaches
Despite the problems she faced with anorexia, Karen was noted with having a favorite dessert that was quite unique. The singing sensation apparently found it quite difficult to pass up the opportunity to dig into some peach melba.
Them Peaches
High Numbers
It’s no surprise that the duo managed to sell a massive fortune of albums during their career. It is estimated that they successfully sold over one hundred million albums! Wow!
High Numbers
Money Mystery
Richard and Karen didn’t want to share how much money they had exactly, but they did feel comfortable enough to tell the world that they were millionaires.
Money Mystery
Sing
The Carpenters had a special tradition when they traveled and performed the song “Sing”. Their routine was to recruit a local children’s choir to perform the song with them. This made their performance of this song totally unique during each show.
Sing
Still Alive
It might surprise some fans to know that The Carpenters’ music is still very much alive. In fact, to this day their music is selling at the same rate as artists who are currently releasing music.
Still Alive
Music For Charity
The Carpenters were very much the people’s kind of band. They even had their own softball team which they used to raise money for the Middlesex County Cancer Society. Karen herself was the star pitcher of her team which went up against another celebrity team.
Music For Charity
The Carpenters Graceland
In 2008, the Carpenters’ house was supposed to be demolished. Fans rallied outside of the residence which they consider as the “Graceland” of the Carpenters. To this day the home is still where it stood back then. Who said fans can’t get anything done?
The Carpenters Graceland
Karen’s Ghost
This is becoming all too familiar for us, only this time the said ghost is not roaming around the home she lived in. Employees at the Jim Henson Company have reported sightings of a woman in the dressing room which once belonged to Karen.
Karens Ghost
Continuing The Legacy
Despite all the difficulties the two siblings faced during their time together, Richard has dedicated a fortune to his sister. Since her passing he has released many unheard collaboration pieces. He has also released some raw soundtracks of hers.
Continuing The Legacy
Karen’s Influence
Other than hyped up fans, there were lots of people who were influenced by Karen’s musical talent. Some of those people are, Sheryl Crow, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, Shania Twain, K.D. Lang and even Madonna.
Karens Influence
Notable Partners
Aside from those she influenced purely with her music, there were others who she charmed with her personality. Karen dated actor Tony Danza, Mike Curb, Alan Osmond and Steve Martin. Elvis Presley was once a prospect too…
Notable Partners
Elvis’ Proposal
Karen was sought after by many big names, and one of those names was Elvis Presley (again). The story goes that apparently he had invited her and British singer, Petula Clark up to his hotel room for, um, time to chat. Recalling the awkward situation, Clark said, “He was very amused by that. It was probably the first time anyone had ever turned him down.”
Elvis Proposal
Late Compliments
After Karen had passed away, many famous musicians started to comment on the band and specifically on Karen. One such example was Paul McCartney of The Beatles, who said that he felt she had the best vocals of all time.
Late Compliments
Not Enough Information
Quite contrary to how the situation would be dealt with today, friends and family tried to force feed Karen. Since anorexia and bulimia were still relatively new disorders, no-one realized that they were mental disorders. So trying to feed her would have never helped her anyway.
Not Enough Information
The Funeral
Karen’s funeral was attended by more than 1000 people. Despite being extremely thin, she kept it secret from the public that she was sick. Her death was one of the major eye-openers that pushed the public to start taking anorexia seriously.
The Funeral
Her First Diet
Looking back, the first time that Karen started to fight to lose weight was shortly ater she graduated from high school. She took on the Stillman water diet which aided her in dropping from 145 pounds to 120 pounds. Her friends and family complimented her on losing her somewhat chubby frame. But that wouldn’t be the end of it.
Her First Diet
A New Diet
Although the Stillman diet forbids a dieter from eating fatty and heavily processed foods, it allows one to still eat. In fact the diet calls for 6 meals a day, albeit smaller ones, but it encourages regular eating. Karen was losing her way and she became transfixed on losing more weight. Soon she weight just 90 pounds.
A New Diet
Carving The Path
Karen found a way to explain her peculiar eating habits while on tour. She said: “When you’re on the road it’s hard to eat. Period. On top of that, it’s rough to eat well. We don’t like to eat before a show because I can’t stand singing with a full stomach… You never get to dinner until, like, midnight, and if you eat heavy you’re not going to sleep, and you’re going to be a balloon.”
Carving The Path
The Obsession
After a concert at Lake Tahoe in August 1973, Karen was flabbergasted by photos she saw of herself. She was convinced that her tummy stood out in the pictures, and she immediately looked for a personal trainer to help her get “back into shape”. But the trainer would turn out to do worse than she had expected.
The Obsession
Bulking Up
After intensive workout sessions and a strict diet plan with her personal trainer, Karen wasn’t pleased with the results she was seeing. She had lost the so-called paunch she had beforehand, but there was something new she didn’t like. With the low calorie diet that packed in protein and good carbs, Karen was gaining muscle, and she didn’t like that. Karen fired her personal trainer.
Bulking Up
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands
Once again looking at herself from afar caused her to become disgusted with her image. It was while watching the Carpenters on the Bob Hope special on TV. When she said that she had put on weight again, Richard actually agreed with her. Karen promised that she would “do something about it”, and went out to buy a hip cycle which she used regularly.
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands
Eating Disorder
But exercise would not do enough for Karen. Her eating habits were worsening. Friends and family noted how she would strategically play with her food at meals, giving the impression that she was eating. Karen would even go as far as telling others to try food from her plate, telling them that it was so delicious. But soon her mother, Agnes, would pick up on this trick and do it right back to her.
Eating Disorder
Trying To Conceal
When Karen’s weight had plummeted to less than 90 pounds, she needed to be creative in order to hide it. She started wear many layers of clothing, but her agent, Sherwin Bash, noticed her ploy. “She would start with a long-sleeved shirt and then put a blouse over that,” he said, “and a sweater over that and a jacket over that… With all of it you had no idea of what she had become.”
Trying To Conceal
The Secret Starts To Come Out
Evelyn Wallace, a close family friend just happened to notice Karen out tanning in the garden. Something caught her eye, and she took a closer look at Karen’s disintegrating body. She recalls, “She loved to go lay out in the sunshine. I don’t know whether it was to get a tan or get away from her mother. Anyhow, I happened to go out to the kitchen for something and I saw her out there. She just had on her little bathing suit shorts. You couldn’t tell whether it was a girl or a boy. She had absolutely no breasts.”
The Secret Starts To Come Out
The Public Notices
Karen’s dwindling weight was influencing her appearance and fans were shocked when they noticed. Although fans sometimes outwardly expressed their concerns for her, they thought perhaps she was suffering from cancer or another disease.
The Public Notices
Richard Moves On
Obviously the loss of his sister was devastating, but in 1984 he took strides to build a family. He married his first cousin (she was adopted) and they had five children. One of their children is Mindi Karen, and another child received the name of Kristi Lynn – the name Karen wanted for her own child.
Richard Moves On
A Living Legacy
The Carpenter family founded the “Carpenter Memorial Foundation”, which raised funds for extensive research on eating disorders and anorexia nervosa, in particular. With time the name of the organization changed, and it took on new funding projects like education, entertainment and the arts. The name is now the “Carpenter Family Foundation”.
A Living Legacy
Her Words Live On
It wasn’t just the music of The Carpenters that made the world feel something, it was Karen’s words too. Many people to this day still cherish the quotes she has made. To many they are words of guidance and support. These quotes will really make you think twice.
Her Words Live On
Fighting For Control
“I may not be in control of anything else, but I am in control of my body.” Sadly it was this single factor of her life that she was in control of, that led her to her untimely death.
Fighting For Control
Just Regular People
“People never think of entertainers as being human. When you walk out on stage, the audience think, Nothing can go wrong with them. We get sick and we have headaches just like they do. When we are cut, we bleed.” This could not be truer for Karen herself.
Just Regular People
Just Sing
“Make it simple to last your whole life long. Don’t worry that it’s not enough for anyone else to hear. Just sing, sing a song.” Isn’t this a piece to ponder.
Just Sing
Taking The Chance
“I had no idea whether I could play ’em or not, but I wanted to and I was very determined… but the band director said ‘That’s not really normal.’ Of course, all you have to tell me is that something’s not normal and I’ll go for it!” Karen was one to live by her words, and this proves that.
Taking The Chance
Genuine Worries
Karen always dreamed of becoming a mother, but there was something inside her that told her that it couldn’t happen. “I’m just afraid I’m gonna miss it all… being married… being a mother.”
Genuine Worries
On Happiness
“Not enough people in this world are happy.” Karen knew this firsthand, and she tried to use her music to change that, not just for her, but for all those who benefited from it.
On Happiness
The Health Industry
“I feel like the health industry is getting nothing but stronger every day.” This leads us to wonder if this had an impact on the way she viewed herself.
The Health Industry
Honesty Is The Best Policy
This is what Karen had to say about The Carpenters’ first single: “Our first single, ‘Ticket To Ride’, was a kind of half-hit, half flop: in some places it was number one, in others it was ash-tray material.”
Honesty Is The Best Policy
Breaking Into The Industry
“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 turn around, I guess it caught people by surprise.” And despite all of this, look at what they managed to produce.
Breaking Into The Industry
Mondays
Believe it or not, Mondays have the same effect on everyone – famous or not. Karen stated that, “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.”
Mondays
About Childhood
“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!” She was so many things other than what people knew her to be.
About Childhood
Getting Help
“There are many approaches, thousands of approaches out there can help you stop smoking. There’s the gum, there’s the patch. But what’s important is what’s going to work for you. And I think you and your physician, having a conversation about that, can provide the best results.” You have to admit that this quote is touching on so many levels.
Getting Help
Finding The One
Even though Karen dedicated so much time and effort on her career, she didn’t ever regret it. “I have a harder time finding somebody. The problem is we were growing professionally during the years most people were concentrating on being a person.”
Finding The One
The Carpenters At The End
The Carpenters, and Karen in particular will be remembered for the happiness that they spread around the world. Karen was a beacon of light to many, and even continues to be just that long after she has passed.
The Carpenters At The End