As Kids
Agnes Reuwer and Harold Bertram Carpenter had two children between them: Richard and Karen. The siblings had musical tendencies from the very beginning. However, they had different interests during their youth. Richard tended to spend time indoors and play the piano, whereas Karen liked to play sports with her friends. Nonetheless, their love for music would offset the differences.
As Kids
Musically Inclined
In the beginning, their parents were unsure which direction Karen would go. In order to determine this, they presented the child with plenty of options. Not everyone can say that they took both ballet and tap dance at four years old.
Musically Inclined
The Drums
In 1963, the Carpenters all moved to California. For tertiary education, Richard went to California State College at Long Beach and developed his music skills there. Meanwhile, Karen studied at Downey High School and learned how to play the drums there. The siblings first played together as part of the pit orchestra for a local staging of “Guys and Dolls”.
The Drums
A Little Secret
Karen might have ended up becoming a talented drummer, but she had a specific reason in mind. So what was it that made her pursue the drums? Well, she did not like to go to early morning gym class and it was her get out of jail free card! Amazing.
A Little Secret
Her First Set
Karen convinced her parents to get her a Ludwig set for an amount of $300. She had a drummer friend named Frankie Chavez who was instrumental in her determination to learn the drums. Karen proved to be a natural. It took her practically no time to learn the 5/4 time signature of ‘Take Five’ by Dave Brubeck. Wow!
Her First Set
Trio
It all began when Richard, Karen, and Wesley Jacobs created a band in 1965. The trio specialized in jazz music. Richard was on the piano, Karen was on the drums, and Wesley was on either the bass or the tuba. Back then, Karen did not have a lot of experience when it came to singing. However, she took voice lessons and finally gained enough confidence to perform.
Trio
Battle of the Bands
In 1966, they competed in the Battle of the Bands at Hollywood Bowl. They won and eventually signed with RCA records! However, they were eventually sacked by the label as they did not think the singles they produced would become hits. Karen joined both Richard and Wes at college after her high school graduation in 1967. The trio did not give up and kept recording in the studio owned by the popular bassist Joe Osborn.
Battle Of The Bands
Small Time Job
Upon her college graduation, Karen embarked on a job hunt, not unlike every other fresh graduate. She actually began a career in the printing business, but this did not last very long. She eventually decided to concentrate on music.
Small Time Job
Karen Goes Solo
One night, Karen sang in front of Joe Osborn during a garage session and the man knew that he had to snap her up as quickly as possible. He signed the young woman to Magic Lamp Records and Richard to Lightup Music. Karen went on to release a single with backup instruments courtesy of her brother and Wes Jacobs. It was unfortunate that it did not receive enough sales and the label had no choice but to drop her.
Karen Goes Solo
New Band
The Carpenter siblings formed a band called “Spectrum” in 1967. It was a larger group than the Richard Carpenter trio and the band was composed of their fellow musicians from Long Beach State. They recorded multiple demos that they sent out to various Los Angeles-based recording labels. However, they did not receive good feedback because they did not play the popular genres at the time: psychedelic rock and dance music. The group decided to disband after spending only a year together.
New Band
Duo
Karen and Richard would be on their own when Wes Jacobs packed up to join the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the year 1967. The siblings began playing as simply the “Carpenters”. Around this time, they performed in the TV program “Your All American College Show”. They also sent out demos to A&M Records and this move would prove to be their lucky break. The people at the record label were fascinated by their distinctive sound and made the decision to sign them in 1969.
Duo
Freedom
Signing a contract with A&M was obviously helpful when it came to making a name for themselves. Moreover, the company granted them a lot of creative independence when it came to the lyrics and the music. Richard was particularly glad for this since he was the one who handled those tasks. The siblings were thus able to come up with an album in no time.
Freedom
Mild Success
They were able to release “Offering”, their first album, in 1969. Unfortunately, it did not have a positive reception. This was evident by the fact that they were only able to sell 18,000 copies. Nonetheless, A&M Records believed in them and scheduled a rebranding meant for the international audience. It was the right thing to do— the repackaged “Ticket to Ride” went on to sell 250,000 copies!
Mild Success
Unique Sound
From the very beginning, everyone could see that what the Carpenters offered was different from the other chart-topping artists. The couple had a distinctive sound, but there were also influences from groups like The Beach Boys and The Mammas and The Papas. They might have undergone a lot of disappointments, but they simply kept creating music until people finally saw their talent.
Unique Sound
Gold
After having their first taste of success, the two opted to create more singles over producing an entire album. Two such singles were the classic songs “Close to You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun”. These proved to be successes and from then on, it was clear that the two were meant for greater things. The siblings started touring and they were even guests on “The Ed Sullivan Show”.
Gold
Highs And Lows
A lot of fans speculate about the notes that Karen hits whenever she sings their songs. Luckily, we have you covered. When it comes to “A Song for You”, she reached a low D and below middle C. On the other hand, she touched a low E flat and below middle C for “Only Yesterday”.
Highs And Lows
The Pres
The Carpenters were well-known all over the globe by the year 1972. The siblings were even asked to come to the White House to meet Ronald Zeigler, Ken Cole, and James Cavanagh. In the same year, they were once again invited back to meet President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office. It was a well-documented event and the President even called them “Young America At Its Best”! Impressive.
The Pres
That’s Not My Name
Here’s a fun fact that even some diehard fans don’t know: they’re originally called “Carpenters”, not “The Carpenters”! That was actually the name on the contract they signed. But what was with the missing ‘the’, anyway? Well, the siblings actually believed that it was the hip thing to do at the time. They followed the initiative of bands like Buffalo Springfield and Jefferson Airplane.
Thats Not My Name
Playboy’s Vote
Karen ended up topping the poll that Playboy conducted to find the best drummer! That’s incredible for someone her age, don’t you think? However, some people scoffed at the result and that would include John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. His reaction? “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
A lot of people might frown at the practice, but lip-syncing is actually pretty common when it comes to live performances. Even the Carpenter siblings did it during their performance of “Bless the Beasts and Children” during the 44th Academy Awards in 1972!
Lip Syncing
A Big Performance
Karen and Richard had their biggest performance during the summer of the year 1971. It was for the Ohio State Fair and the concert sold over 50,000 tickets for the one night only performance. As if we needed any more indicator that they were able to make it big!
A Big Performance
Fame
The Carpenter siblings proceeded to record and release new songs. These include “Now & Then”, “Horizon”, and “A Song for You”. At this point, they were incredibly well-known. In fact, Karen was even rumored to be seeing none other than Elvis Presley. Sadly, the fame and fortune came at the expense of their mental health.
Fame
A Break
We all know that it takes a lot of hard work to attain such a level of fame. However, Richard had a difficult time adjusting and resorted to sedative drugs to cope. His addiction got so bad that he had to be taken to a rehab facility somewhere in Kansas. On the other hand, Karen decided to make music on her own while her brother was away. She had a lot of material ready and recorded an album with it. Sadly, the label executives prevented it from being released.
A Break
Not A Fan
Karen took great pride into the creation of her own album. Why wouldn’t she? She worked hard to make it, after all. Sadly, it did not get a lot of good feedback, even from her brother. Richard said the songs were “too mature”, the vocal range ill-fitting, and the lyrics weak. It is easy to see why Karen blamed herself for the failure of the album.
Not A Fan
Her Struggles
While Richard was fighting a drug addiction, he realized that his sister had been dealing with anorexia herself. When he confronted her about it, Karen denied the allegation. Nonetheless, the two went back to work in 1980 and they were able to release the “Made in America” LP the year after that. It was a success— it sold around 200,000 copies and the “Touch Me When We’re Dancing” track made its way to the 16th spot on the coveted Top 100 Hits.
Her Struggles
Long Battle
Let us first have some historical context to understand Karen’s situation. Anorexia was not a common term back then and this made the diagnosis even more difficult for the young woman. She had to take therapy and undergo rehabilitation where she was forced to consume food. Her condition was worrying! At one point, she shed 25 pounds in only one month because she was drinking water and eating scarcely eating any food.
Long Battle
Shows Cancelled
Despite the fame, we can see that the two had a lot of personal demons. It must have been stressful to face these problems when their career was at an all-time high. Karen was also going on a heavy diet to prepare for the shows. Her illness became debilitating in 1975 and they had to cancel the scheduled shows in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines.
Shows Cancelled
Seeking Help
Karen finally started seeking the help of a professional after going through the ordeal. She hired the services of Steven Levenkron, a psychotherapist from New York City. Richard did not approve of the way he was dealing with her sister’s case. Regardless, Karen kept seeing the medical professional. One day, the doctor received a call from Karen, who reported that her heart was “beating funny”.
Seeking Help
Her Friends Said
We might think that we know all about our favorite celebrities, but it is a fact that there are many things that the general public does not know about them. Sometimes, even our friends are unaware of our hidden depths. Karen’s peers called her a goofy, caring, and fun-loving person. However, there were many things going on in her family that most people do not know about.
Her Friends Said
Mommy Issues
Most people know that the love they give will not always be returned. Sometimes, this is true even for the person it is most expected from. Their mother, Agnes, was someone known for being strict and difficult. Throughout her life, Karen only wanted love, affection, and acceptance from her own mother.
Mommy Issues
Brother Issues
There is no denying the fact that Karen and Richard performed excellently together. They were also close to each other, but there were plenty of issues between the siblings. Richard was allegedly a workaholic who forbade Karen from doing anything that he did not personally approve of. This extended to their schedule as well. It’s no wonder why she desired the freedom to do her own thing.
Brother Issues
Walking To Her Death
Karen also had a penchant for walking miles on end to lose more weight. When her doctor found out about this, he tried to get her to stop. He even contacted family members with the hope that they can provide an intervention. It is clear that the doctor had good intentions, but things took a turn for the worse when he made the phone call.
Walking To Her Death
Tension On The Phone
Despite the warnings she received, Karen continued to walk all the way to her doctor’s clinic. It was two miles away from her home! Her doctor felt like the best course of action would be to contact her family to help. He did so by asking them, “Do you love Karen?” While Richard ended up weeping during the phone call, their mother did not show as much emotion. She simply condemned the medical professional for asking them a question of that nature.
Tension On The Phone
Rushed To Hospital
Upon receiving Karen’s worrisome call, he immediately advised her to check into a hospital. Karen eventually went to one but it took some time. She was fed via an IV drip and in only two months, she regained about 30 pounds. Things were looking up and she asked to be discharged when November rolled in— she even proclaimed that she was no longer ill! Everyone thought that it was still too early to leave, but nobody could deter Karen.
Rushed To Hospital
Off The Radar
Upon her release, Karen did not hesitate to pick up where she left off. She returned to the entertainment industry immediately. She jumped back into work without hesitation and the young woman was even able to go to the 25th celebration of the Grammys on January 1, 1983. However, this was actually her final public appearance, though no one knew it at the time.
Off The Radar
Not For Me
Karen had mentioned in an early interview that she was not really interested in a relationship at the moment. Her schedule made it hard to see anyone, not to mention the fact that the entertainment industry was not the most conducive field for dating. That is not to say that she did not want to settle down. Some of her close friends reported that Karen actually craved a partner and a family.
Not For Me
Surprise!
What do you know— Karen’s wish would come through in August 1980! That was the time she began seeing Thomas James Burris, whom she met in the Beverly Hills Hotel. The real estate developer was older than her by nine years and he had an 18-year-old child from a failed marriage, but these details did not matter to Karen.
Surprise
A Perfect Suitor
On paper, the 39-year-old man sounded like the perfect man. On top of being handsome, he was also nice and generous to boot! It sounded like Karen won the lottery, didn’t she? However, Tom Burris revealed his true colors soon enough.
A Perfect Suitor
Kids
It was no secret that Karen was desperate to have kids of her own. However, this was apparently impossible for the two of them since Burris received a vasectomy several years before! Karen did not take kindly to this piece of information, especially since Tom only told her about it just before their wedding.
Kids
Calling Off The Wedding
Clearly, having children was the number one priority for Karen and her decision to cancel the wedding o Burris was a testament to this. She did not receive her mother’s support, however. In fact, Agnes berated her and told her to take responsibility for her actions. The older Carpenter woman told her that it was inconsiderate to their guests who already made plans to come over. “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,” she told her daughter. “You made your bed, Karen. Now you’ll have to lay in it.”
Calling Off The Wedding
The Mask He Wore
Despite everything, Karen decided to push through with the wedding and she exchanged vows with Burris. She held on to her dreams of having her own children, but her husband was not receptive. Moreover, he insulted her by saying that she was a “bag of bones” who was unfit for motherhood. The insults were not the last time that he displayed his abusive behavior, however.
The Mask He Wore
Careless Spending
Initially, everyone believed that Burris was just as wealthy as Karen, if not more. But it did not take long before the jig was up. Apparently, the man was spending more money than he could actually afford. He might have lavish cars and belongings, but it was all a farce. Here was what Evelyn Wallace had to say about him: “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
It was not all about the money, however. Karen also underwent physical and emotional forms of abuse from Tom. One way she expressed her defiance was by changing her will. She specified that upon her demise, everything under her name would be given to her family. A public altercation would lead to their separation. Karen served him divorce papers in 1982.
Not A Happy Ending
Helping Others
Sadly, Karen Carpenter passed away on February 1, 1983. The cause of her death was heart failure as a complication of anorexia. Her death was a turning point in eating disorder awareness. It was clear that the general public was taken by surprise by her demise. Nonetheless, the tragic event certainly helped educate people about the risks that accompany anorexia and bulimia.
Helping Others
Ending In Divorce
Here is an interesting tidbit: Karen Carpenter died on the day that she planned on signing her divorce papers! Of course, it should go without saying that she did not get to write her name along the dotted line.
Ending In Divorce
The Autopsy
Karen and Richard’s parents wanted an autopsy done on her body so that they can determine the cause of her death. The results showed that she drank a lot of ipecac syrup. The medicine is often used to make a person throw up.
The Autopsy
Nation Mourns
On February 8, 1983, Karen Carpenter was finally laid to rest. About a thousand fans were there to pay their respects to their idol. Dorothy Hamill and Olivia Newton-John also attended the interment of their beloved friend. Burris also attended the ceremony and laid his wedding ring on top of the casket. How can we forget about her millions of fans all over the world who mourned the death of the musician?
Nation Mourns
The Final Performance
Karen Carpenter’s last singing gig happened on December 17, 1982. It was a Christmas treat for her godchildren and their schoolmates at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. At the time, no one knew that it would be her final performance.
The Final Performance
A Movie
CBS produced “The Karen Carpenter Story” in order to honor the legendary musician. The tribute portrayed the difficult life that Karen had, including her difficulties with her family, fame, and anorexia. The biopic went on to receive a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
A Movie
Flawed Facts
A lot of people in the audience left with wet eyes, but apparently the movie was not entirely factual. One scene in particular stood out: Agnes telling Karen that she loves her. In reality, no one remembers such a thing happening.
Flawed Facts
A Star
The Carpenters received their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 12, 1983. Remember the unreleased solo album that Karen created while Richard was in rehab? It was released in 1996. She might have passed away, but nothing will ever diminish the influence she had on people from all parts of the world.
A Star
His Own Solo
When Karen passed away, Richard Carpenter made it his duty to put together compilations of songs that he and his sister made. He also put out a solo album entitled “Time” in 1987. It contained works by Dionne Warwick, Joe Osborn, and Dusty Springfield. We’re sure you can tell to whom he dedicated it to.
His Own Solo
Too Much Breath
Richard revealed some tidbits about Karen during an exclusive interview with Liberty Devitto. According to him, Karen was truly passionate about making music. In fact, while they were recording “Remember When Lovin’ Took All Night”, Karen hyperventilated and passed out! This happened while she was recording heavy breathing sounds for the background vocals. Now that’s some impressive dedication to creating music.
Too Much Breath
Them Peaches
Everyone knows that Karen struggled with anorexia but she liked to treat herself from time to time. Did you know what her favorite dessert was? It was pretty unique. Apparently, the singer enjoyed eating peach melba from time to time.
Them Peaches
High Numbers
Anyone who is familiar with their beautiful sound would not be surprised to hear that they amassed a lot of money throughout their career. After all, they did sell approximately one hundred million albums during the span of their career!
High Numbers
Money Mystery
Richard and Karen never disclosed exactly how much money they had in their bank accounts. However, they were open about the fact that they were already considered millionaires.
Money Mystery
Sing
The Carpenters had a tradition that you might not know about. The duo liked to travel and perform “Sing”. The twist is that they always look for a children’s choir to perform with them! The nature of the performance made every show different from the last!
Sing
Still Alive
Sure, it has been many years since their albums came out, but the Carpenters are still literally making money off their music. In fact, their album sales remain on par with artists who are releasing music right now.
Still Alive
Music For Charity
Most people will agree with the sentiment that the Carpenter siblings were a duo who were in touch with the people. They even launched a softball team that was used to fundraise for the Middlesex County Cancer Society. Karen was actually the star pitcher of the team!
Music For Charity
The Carpenters Graceland
In 2008, the demolition of the Carpenter’s house was underway until fans rallied outside of the home. It had even been likened to Elvis Presley’s “Graceland”! It worked. Fans will still be able to find the Carpenter home intact in Downey, California.
The Carpenters Graceland
Karen’s Ghost
Karen might not only live on in the music they produced! Some people have reported that they saw her ghost. No, the reports were never about her childhood home. Instead, they usually took place in the Jim Henson Company building. Employees say that a womanly apparition appears in the star’s former dressing room!
Karens Ghost
Continuing The Legacy
It is true that Richard and Karen were not always on the same page. However, Richard certainly tried to make amends after her passing. He has dedicated many of his newer works to his sister. He also released some of their collaborations and even some of her raw soundtracks.
Continuing The Legacy
Karen’s Influence
It’s no secret that Karen was able to accumulate a large number of fans. However, she was so iconic that some big stars admitted she was a key figure in their creative process. The list includes K.D. Lang, Kim Gordon, Madonna, and Sheryl Crow!
Karens Influence
Notable Partners
Her music will be remembered for generations to come, but let us not neglect her wonderful personality. Many were bewitched by the musical legend’s charms. Her dating list included Mike Curb, Steve Martin, Tony Danza, and Alan Osmond. At some point, Elvis Presley was even rumored to be involved with her!
Notable Partners
Elvis’ Proposal
Karen attracted a lot of attention and even the King of Rock and Roll could not stay away! So what exactly happened between the two of them? Apparently, the situation also involved Petula Clark, a British music artist. They both received an invitation to partake in a ménage a trois. Clark recalled the particular moment, “He was very amused by that. It was probably the first time anyone had ever turned him down.”
Elvis Proposal
Late Compliments
Upon her passing, a lot of people expressed how much they admired Karen Carpenter. Even musicians more famous than her had good things to say about her work. Paul McCartney himself even went so far as to say that Karen had the best vocals in history.
Late Compliments
Not Enough Information
Some of Karen’s friends and family members thought that it was appropriate to force feed her. Let us not judge them too harshly— eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia were fairly new diagnoses back then. No one knew that they were mental health issues and that forcing her to eat was not going to solve anything.
Not Enough Information
The Funeral
Over a thousand people were in attendance during Karen’s funeral. We are sure that people took note of how much weight she had lost, but the singer never let the public know that she was actually sick. In some ways, her death was a huge turning point in mental health awareness. More people definitely became aware that anorexia was no joke.
The Funeral
Her First Diet
When did all begin? A lot of people point to the period after her graduation from high school. Back then, Karen underwent the Stillman water diet and she dropped from 145 pounds to 120 pounds. A lot of people complimented her appearance after her so-called dieting success. Most people think that this was the beginning of the problem that would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Her First Diet
A New Diet
So what does the Stillman diet involve? Generally, it forbids one from eating any fatty and heavy processed food. However, the diet encourages regular eating and did not forbid one from consuming small meals. Overall, the original diet plan includes six small meals over the course of a day! Karen was becoming obsessed with dieting and it did not take very long before her weight came down to 90 pounds.
A New Diet
Carving The Path
People noticed Karen’s peculiar eating patterns when the Carpenters went on tour. She explained it by saying, “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 wrapping up a show at Lake Tahoe in the summer of 1973, Karen was allegedly astonished by the pictures she appeared in. She believed that her tummy was prominent in the photos so she immediately began looking for a professional. She wanted to get “back into shape” but the personal trainer was unable to deliver to her liking.
The Obsession
Bulking Up
Karen had to perform a serious workout regimen and follow a strict diet so it is safe to say that she was looking great. It seems like the low-calorie diet was doing wonders for her body. However, she did not feel the same way about the new changes. Sure, she lost the “paunch”, but it had been replaced by muscle mass! Clearly, this was not what she signed up for. She fired her personal trainer.
Bulking Up
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands
Aside from the photographs, Karen also disliked what she saw of herself on the TV. This was especially true when she watched the Carpenters’ appearance on the Bob Hope Special. She lamented that she had put on some pounds and Richard even agreed with the observation. This made Karen promise to “do something about it” so she got herself a hip cycle and rode it regularly.
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands
Eating Disorder
Aside from her excessive exercising, Karen was also overdoing it with her dieting. She had several tricks up her sleeve in order to stop her friends and family from noticing that she was not eating. Whenever they dined together, she would only play around with her food or offer bites to her companions. Agnes saw right through her tricks. She also kept offering Karen her food in retribution.
Eating Disorder
Trying To Conceal
Once her weight hit less than 90 pounds, it was immediately noticeable that something was wrong. Karen tried to hide her illness by wearing multiple layers of clothing. Sherwin Bash, her agent, was not fooled. “She would start with a long-sleeved shirt and then put a blouse over that, and a sweater over that and a jacket over that… With all of it you had no idea of what she had become,” he explained.
Trying To Conceal
The Secret Starts To Come Out
Evelyn Wallace once retold the time she saw Karen sunbathing in the garden. The family friend was shocked at the state of Karen’s body. According to her, “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
Her quickly diminishing weight was taking its toll on her appearance and her fans were quick to notice. They expressed their concern for Karen, but they thought that she must have been suffering from cancer or another chronic disease. They never once thought it was anorexia.
The Public Notices
Richard Moves On
There is no doubt that it was difficult to lose Karen, but Richard tried to keep moving forward. He married an adopted cousin and they were blessed with five kids. They never forgot about Karen, however. They named one daughter Mindi Karen and another one Kristi Lynn, which was the name that Karen planned to give her own daughter had she been given the chance.
Richard Moves On
A Living Legacy
Another tribute to Karen was the “Carpenter Memorial Foundation”. The body aimed to raise funds to conduct research on anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. Over time, the organization has since rebranded. It is now called the “Carpenter Family Foundation” and they now fund projects on the arts, education, and entertainment as well.
A Living Legacy
