Miss Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American drummer and singer who, along with her older brother Richard, was part of the duo The Carpenters. She was praised for her 3-octave contralto vocal range. Her drumming abilities were viewed positively by other musicans and critics. Born on March 2, 1950 in New Haven CT and sadly left us, too soon, on February 4, 1983 in Downey California.
Merry Christmas, Darling
Christmas Memories
When Karen's family moved to California in 1963 she began to study the drums in high school and joined the Long Beach State choir after graduating. After several years of touring and recording, Karen and her brother were signed to A&M Records in 1969, achieving success throughout the 70s. While The Carpenters were on hiatus in the late 70s, she recorded a solo album which was released years after her death. In 1999, VH1 ranked Carpenter at #29 on its list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked Carpenter #94 on its list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time calling her voice "impossibly lush and almost shockingly intimate", adding "even the sappiest songs sound like she is staring directly into your eyes". Karen had impeccable intonation and remarkable breath control, without any training.
Karen has been called "one of the greatest voices of our lifetime" by Elton John.
Carpenter's untimely death at age 32 brought media attention to her health issue. Her family started the Karen A. Carpenter Memorial Foundation which raised money for research on anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders.
On October 12, 1983 shortly after her passing, The Carpenters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Karen Carpenter's brother is Richard Lynn Carpenter. Just eight months after Karen passed away, Richard found out that he and his sister would be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On the day The Carpenters received this honor Richard spoke these words .. "This is a sad day, but at the same time a very special and beautiful day to my family and me".
Richard is a three-time Grammy-winning composer, singer, record producer, music arranger and pianist. He and his sister were both born in New Haven, Connecticut. They enjoyed the same music and always seemed to know what the other was thinking. They were very close siblings and had an early love of music that we came to enjoy during their years of recording and performing. Richard thinks of his sister now more than ever. "Our happiest day was on July 22, 1970 when our recording of Close to You became our first No. 1 hit." Other hits were Yesterday Once More, Goodbye to Love, Top of the World, Merry Christmas, Darling and Only Yesterday. Karen's favorite singer was Petula Clark.
Richard lives with his family in Thousand Oaks California. He owns a Steinway Model D 9-foot concert grand in the living room and a 6-foot-3 Baldwin parlor grand in the sitting room of his one story ranch home. His everyday car is 2009 Porsche Carrera S and as a car collector he owns 5 vintage muscle cars. Years ago in Richard's new black Plymouth Barracuda, Karen had all the radio buttons set to major pop stations. She started going down the line. Close to You was on two of the stations at the same time. "I'll never forget her expression when she looked at me".
Movies and TV shows were The Karen Carpenter Story and Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters. During filming of The Karen Carpenter story (1989) the young actor who portrayed Richard was locally born and raised, Mitchell Ogren Anderson. Yes, Mitch was born in Jamestown NY to a retail store owner mother and a businessman father. He attended Jamestown High School and Williams College before going on to attend Julliard School. Anderson now lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his partner of many years, Richie Arpino and owns a restaurant in Midtown Atlanta called MetroFresh. If you are in Atlanta, the location is 931 Monroe Dr. NE.
I had the fun opportunity of meeting Mitch during his visit to Jamestown many years ago when he was promoting his cookbook, Food For Thought. He was interviewed by the late Jim Roselle on WJTN and later that evening Mitch prepared a few of his recipes from his book for those of us who attended a special speaking event to hear Mitch tell his life story with a Q&A session after dinner. The event was held in the basement of St. Luke's Episcopal Church which was the church Mitch, his parents and siblings attended. So our area has an indirect connection to The Carpenters.
Mitch Anderson's Childhood Home
To my friends who live in Thousand Oaks, I will ask them to watch for a 2009 Porsche Carrera S .. good chance Richard Carpenter will be behind the steering wheel. Coincidentally, my friend's name is Mendy and Richard has a daughter whose name is also Mindi (though spelled differently). His daughter's middle name is Karen.
Be Safe.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
