The Carpenters were quite the phenomenon back in the early 70’s. It has been about half a decade since they first released an album, but Richard and Karen still maintain a certain clout on the music industry. They are considered pioneers of “Sunshine Pop” music subgenre, after all. However, there are many things about the siblings that even their biggest fans don’t know about. Let us take a look at the life and secrets of the Carpenters throughout the years: before, during, and after they made it big.
As Kids
Richard and Karen were born to Harold Bertram Carpenter and Agnes Reuwer. As children, Richard tended to stay indoors, enjoying classical music and practicing the piano while Karen preferred to spend time outdoors with her peers. Despite the difference in how they spend their time, their parents were able to see that their kids were both interested in music. How little did they know just how much music would influence their children.
As Kids
Musically Inclined
Initially, the Carpenter parents did not know what direction Karen would take. They decided to enroll her in different classes so that the little girl can figure it out. At only four years old, their daughter would be taking ballet and tap dancing lessons! A wise choice indeed. Especially considering where her career took her!
Musically Inclined
The Drums
The family relocated to California back in 1963. Richard went on to study at California State College at Long Beach, where he further honed his music skills. Karen, on the other hand, became a student at Downey High School and learned to play the drums while attending school there. The siblings played together in the pit band for a local production of the musical “Guys and Dolls”.
The Drums
A Little Secret
It’s already amazing that Karen turned out to be a great drummer, but did you know that there was a reason she went down this path? She apparently did not enjoy going to gym class in the early morning and decided to study the drums to get out of it! Not the purest of intentions, but we wouldn’t have her music otherwise.
A Little Secret
Her First Set
Karen was able to persuade her parents into buying her a Ludwig drum kit for $300. Interestingly, a friend called Frankie Chavez was a major influence in her decision to learn how to play the instrument. She might have been curious about the drums, but she was also a quick learner. In fact, she was able to master difficult time signatures like the 5/4 in ‘Take Five’ by Dave Brubeck in no time at all.
Her First Set
Trio
The siblings decided to start a jazz trio in 1965. Richard and Karen were accompanied by Wesley Jacobs, Richard’s friend from school. Richard played the piano, Karen was on the drums, and Wesley played the tuba and bass. Karen was not a good singer at the time, but she was able to build enough confidence to perform after taking several vocal lessons.
Trio
Battle of the Bands
The trio won the 1966 Battle of the Bands at Hollywood Bowl. As a prize, they signed with RCA records. There, they recorded several singles but they were ultimately dropped by the label. Why? Apparently, the studio did not believe that they would become successful. In 1967, Karen graduated from high school and followed her brother’s footsteps by choosing to attend Long Beach State. The trio continued to make recordings in Joe Osborn’s studio.
Battle Of The Bands
Small Time Job
When Karen finished her college education, she had to search for a job like most fresh graduates. She took a job in the printing business like her father for some time. However, she would be committed to making music not long after. Good choice, don’t you think?
Small Time Job
Karen Goes Solo
Joe Osborn knew that Karen was special when she performed in front of him late at night during a garage session. He immediately signed her to his label, Magic Lamp Records. Soon after, he would also snap up Richard under Lightup Music, the publishing branch. Karen was able to record and release a single with the help of the other Richard Carpenter Trio members. Unfortunately, it did not become successful and she was dropped by the label.
Karen Goes Solo
New Band
In 1967, the siblings decided to launch a larger band alongside fellow Long Beach State musicians. It was called “Spectrum” and they shipped their demos to various Los Angeles labels. It was unfortunate that they did not get a positive reception and the band split up after only a year. At the time, psychedelic rock was popular and the music made by the band was deemed as too mellow. It was rejected by both the clubs and record labels because it was not considered danceable music.
New Band
Duo
In 1967, Wes Jacobs decided to grab the opportunity to play for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Left on their own, Karen and Richard decided to play as a duo and called themselves the “Carpenters”. This was also the same period that they appeared in “Your American College Show”. They recorded more demos and sent their outputs to A&M Records. The label was intrigued by the unique music they produced and signed them in 1969.
Duo
Freedom
It is undeniable that A&M gave them many opportunities, but did you know that they were given a lot of artistic freedom? The pair was allowed to write their own lyrics and make their own music. This condition especially excited Richard because he was the one who did most of the composition. They were able to create an album soon enough.
Freedom
Mild Success
Karen and Richard were able to release their first album in 1969. However, it did not perform well during its initial run as it was heavily criticized and only had 18,000 sales. Luckily, A&M Records decided to support the pair and even launched a rebranding to cater to the international market. This would prove to be a great move as “Ticket to Ride” ended up selling 250,000 copies.
Mild Success
Unique Sound
It was clear that the music made by the Carpenters were different from the other songs on the charts. Some of their musical influences were The Beach Boys and The Mammas and The Papas. Of course, they did not fail to infuse their own sound into it. The siblings kept making more music and it was only a matter of time before people were able to appreciate their talent.
Unique Sound
Gold
After accomplishing some success, they decided that the next step should not be to create an entire album. They thought it was better to create more singles instead. They even covered the songs “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Close to You”. These two singles proved to be successful and they were headed straight for fame. They began touring and even made an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show”!
Gold
Highs And Lows
Their fans have always wondered the notes that Karen can hit when she was singing her heart out. We have the answers for you! In “A Song for You”, she reached a low D and below middle C. For “Only Yesterday”, she began with a low E flat and below middle C.
Highs And Lows
The Pres
By 1972, The Carpenters were already big global stars. They even received an invitation to visit the White House and had the opportunity to meet Ken Cole, James Cavanagh, and Ronald Zeigler. Later that year, they were also invited by President Richard Nixon to the Oval Office. It’s not every day that the POTUS wants to meet you! The event had been commemorated with photographs.
The Pres
That’s Not My Name
Did you know that they were officially known as “Carpenters”, not “The Carpenters”? It might seem like a minuscule detail, but this also means that fans have been calling them the wrong name the whole time! Why did they even drop the article in the first place? It was apparently because they thought it was cooler at the time. After all, musical acts like Jefferson Buffalo Springfield and Airplane did the same thing!
Thats Not My Name
Playboy’s Vote
Playboy held a poll to determine the best drummer and Karen came out on top! Not everyone was happy with the result, however. Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham was one of these people. Upon seeing the results, he had something to say. “I’d like to have it publicized that I came in after Karen Carpenter in the Playboy drummer poll!” he sneered. “She couldn’t last ten minutes with a Zeppelin number.”
Playboys Vote
Lip Syncing
Unbeknownst to many people, lip-syncing during live performances is actually a common practice in the industry. Even Karen and Richard resorted to this method when they appeared at the 1972 Academy Award ceremony to perform “Bless the Beasts and Children”.
Lip Syncing
A Big Performance
However, the biggest live performance they ever had to do was for the Ohio State Fair in the summer of 1971. The concert had over 50,000 guests who were in attendance for their performance! It was as clear as day that they were at the peak of their popularity at the time.
A Big Performance
Fame
Richard and Karen kept releasing new singles like “A Song for You” and “Now & Then”. Let us not forget about “Horizon” as well! In fact, they were so popular that there was a rumor spreading that Karen was enjoying the company of the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley! However, this fame did not come without any repercussions.
Fame
A Break
It might be a cliché to say that money can’t buy happiness, but where there’s smoke there is fire. Richard began taking sedatives as a coping mechanism and he had to enter a rehabilitation center in Kansas. Meanwhile, Karen wanted to keep creating music even in her brother’s absence. She had a lot of material on hand and created her own solo album. However, labels did not like the output and decided not to release it.
A Break
Not A Fan
Karen was actually proud of herself for making her own album. She put a lot of effort into its creation. However, not a lot of people agreed with her. Even her own brother said that it was “too mature” for her and that it did not suit her vocal range. He actually called the songs weak! The negative reception made Karen think it was her fault the album failed.
Not A Fan
Her Struggles
During the time that Richard was battling a drug addiction, he noticed that Karen had been dealing with anorexia. His sister denied this when he brought it up. They were back at the recording studio in 1980 and created the LP “Made in America”. It was released the following year and they sold 200,000 copies of it! Moreover, the track “Touch Me When We’re Dancing” landed on the 16th spot of the Top 100 charts.
Her Struggles
Long Battle
During that period, anorexia was a fairly uncommon term and very few people were familiar with the condition. Karen had a difficult time when the diagnosis was made. She underwent rehabilitation and took therapy where she was practically forced to eat some food for nutrition. After all, she had a lot of weight to make up for. She lost over 25 pounds in just one month when she was only consuming water and barely any food at all.
Long Battle
Shows Cancelled
It is clear that the siblings had their share of problems to deal with. During the peak of their career, they were evidently suffering from a lot of stress. Karen was losing weight excessively in preparation for their upcoming shows. However, her condition was so severe by 1975 that they had to cancel their shows in the Philippines, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Shows Cancelled
Seeking Help
Eventually, Karen began to look for help from professionals. She found Steven Levenkron, a New York City-based psychotherapist. Richard expressed dissatisfaction at the way he handled Karen’s case but it did not stop Karen from seeing Levenkron. However, she rang the doctor up one day to report that she was not feeling well. More specifically, she told him that her heart was “beating funny”.
Seeking Help
Her Friends Said
There was a lot of things happening behind the scenes for Karen. This is something that is true for all celebrities and public figures. Her friends described her as someone caring, fun-loving, and goofy. Interestingly, she also had an adorable obsession when it comes to stuffed animals. However, there were a lot of things in her family that made Karen the person she was back then.
Her Friends Said
Mommy Issues
Karen gave love freely but that did not guarantee that it would always be reciprocated. The prime example would be her own mother. Agnes Carpenter was described as a strict and difficult woman by those who knew her. Her entire life, all Karen wanted was to feel accepted and loved by her mother.
Mommy Issues
Brother Issues
It is true that Karen was close to her brother and they indeed created magic whenever they performed together. However, there were many things that the two of them did not agree on. For one thing, Richard was reportedly a workaholic who did not give his sister a lot of freedom. He even had the final say on the schedule of their shows. It is easy to see why Karen wanted independence.
Brother Issues
Walking To Her Death
Aside from dieting, Karen had a tendency to walk inordinate distances to aid her weight loss. The medical professional she was seeing asked her to stop and encouraged her family members to intervene. However, it was a little disastrous when the doctor rang up the other members of the Carpenter family.
Walking To Her Death
Tension On The Phone
Karen kept walking to visit the clinic, which was located two miles away from her place. Her doctor had no choice but to get in touch with her family members and asked them a simple question: “Do you love Karen?” Richard began to cry while on the phone and responded that he does. However, their mother did not respond in the same way. Instead, she criticized the doctor for daring to ask such an invasive question.
Tension On The Phone
Rushed To Hospital
Once he got Karen’s frightening phone call, he told Karen to get herself to the hospital. She followed his advice, but not right away. It was only later that month that she went to a hospital. There, she was attached to an IV drip and gained 30 pounds in only two months. When she was discharged in November, she announced that she had been cured of anorexia. Everyone disagreed with her decision to leave the hospital, but she was determined that it was time to get out.
Rushed To Hospital
Off The Radar
After getting discharged, Karen did not bother taking it easy. Instead, she decided to head back to the spotlight immediately. She was even in attendance during the 25th Grammy Awards held on January 1, 1983. Unbeknownst to everyone back then, that would be her last appearance in public. She also made her comeback to the recording studio as soon as possible.
Off The Radar
Not For Me
During her earlier interviews, Karen confessed that she was not on the lookout for a relationship. This was due to her demanding schedule and the difficulty of finding someone while working in the industry. However, this did not mean that she did not want it. In fact, people close to her reported that Karen desired a companion as well as a family of her own.
Not For Me
Surprise!
Despite everything, Karen’s wish was actually granted! She met Thomas James Burris in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel on August 31, 1980. The real estate businessman was nine years older than Karen and he also had a son from a previous marriage. However, Karen did not seem to mind these details.
Surprise
A Perfect Suitor
The 39-year-old Tom Burris seemed like the perfect person for her. At least it seemed that way to Karen. He was a good-looking man who was also nice and generous. However, it did not take long before the façade began to fall apart.
A Perfect Suitor
Kids
Karen apparently wanted to have her own children really badly. This was a huge factor in the failure of their marriage as Burris actually underwent vasectomy years before they met! It was a complete surprise to Karen as Tom never mentioned to her. The first time she learned about it was shortly before their wedding.
Kids
Calling Off The Wedding
Karen wanted to have children more than anything else in the world and she decided to cancel the wedding. When she delivered the news to her mother, Agnes scolded her and told her to proceed with the wedding. According to her, it would be shameful to call it off when their friends and family members have already planned to attend the ceremony. “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
Karen heeded her mother’s advice and proceeded with the wedding. She did not give up on her dreams of becoming a mother. However, she got a negative reaction from her new husband when she spoke about the alternatives they had! He said that he did not want to have kids with a “bag of bones”! His abusive behavior was not simply limited to verbal abuse, however. It was barely the tip of the iceberg.
The Mask He Wore
Careless Spending
In the beginning, most people thought that Burris was a wealthy man. However, the truth would soon come to light—behind the luxury cars he drove and the designer clothing he wore, he was actually terribly in debt. “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,” family friend Evelyn Wallace narrated. “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 verbal assault and financial problems he brought, there was also a physical aspect to the abuse. When she had enough, she revised her will and indicated that nothing from her estate will go to her husband. The last straw was a public fight in a restaurant and two had been separated ever since. Karen officially filed for divorce sometime in 1982.
Not A Happy Ending
Helping Others
In a tragic turn of events, Karen Carpenter succumbed to heart failure on February 1, 1983. It was largely attributed to anorexia. Her passing shocked all of her fans, especially those who were not familiar with the condition. However, it shed a lot of light about eating disorders as well as educated the public about the dangers that come with bulimia and anorexia.
Helping Others
Ending In Divorce
There was an odd coincidence, however. The day of her death coincided with the day that she was going to sign the divorce papers in order to finalize it. As a result, Karen Carpenter was unable to sign them and they were still legally together at the time of her demise. It’s a good thing she was able to update her will.
Ending In Divorce
The Autopsy
After her passing, the Carpenter parents agreed to an autopsy in order to find out what caused her death. When the procedure was finished, it was revealed that Karen consumed a huge amount of ipecac syrup. It is commonly known for making people vomit.
The Autopsy
Nation Mourns
Karen’s interment was held on February 8, 1983. More than a thousand fans came to attend the funeral of the young musician. Of course, her close friends Olivia Newton-John and Dorothy Hamill were also present. Burris was even in attendance and he even put his wedding ring in the casket. Let us not forget about the millions of fans who all mourned her passing despite the geographic distance.
Nation Mourns
The Final Performance
The last time that Karen Carpenter sang in public was on December 17, 1982. It was during a gig at the Buckley School, an educational institution located in Los Angeles, California. She sang several Christmas carols as a favor for her godchildren and the other students. It goes without saying that no one knew it would be the final time they hear her sing.
The Final Performance
A Movie
CBS paid a tribute to Karen Carpenter’s life with the biographical movie “The Karen Carpenter Story”. They showed how the young woman struggled with her eating disorder, difficult family, and fame all at the same time. The film was even nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
A Movie
Flawed Facts
The movie made a lot of people cry, but not everything in it was truthful. For example, there was one scene where Karen’s mom Agnes tells the young woman that she loves her. This was something without any historical backing.
Flawed Facts
A Star
In 1983, the Carpenter siblings received their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The solo album Karen created while Richard was away also received a release date 13 years after she passed away. She might no longer be here, but her legacy will forever remain. Her music has immortalized Karen Carpenter and the artist continues to inspire people with her works.
A Star
His Own Solo
After his sister passed away, Richard Carpenter put it upon himself to put together several compilations of the music they created. In 1987, he released a solo album called “Time” that included songs by Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield. He, of course, dedicated it to Karen.
His Own Solo
Too Much Breath
In an interview with Liberty Devitto, he talked about something unique regarding Karen’s devotion to creating beautiful music. As a testament to her passion, he recounted something that happened while they were recording “Remember When Lovin’ Took All Night”. Apparently, while she was recording heavy breathing for the background, she became so invested that she ended up knocking herself out cold!
Too Much Breath
Them Peaches
Karen might have suffered from an eating disorder but that does not necessarily mean that she hated food. In fact, there was a specific treat that she adored. The legendary musician reportedly loved peach melba!
Them Peaches
High Numbers
If you have ever heard their songs, you would have zero doubts that they were able to make a fortune from their albums. Records say that the Carpenters were able to sell more than one hundred million albums!
High Numbers
Money Mystery
The siblings never got into details about the amount of money they had, but they did let us know that they had become millionaires at some point in their career.
Money Mystery
Sing
Did you know about this adorable tradition of the Carpenters? They had a tendency to travel around and perform “Sing” alongside a children’s choir from the region. Since they were performing with a new group every time, they always had unique results. It must have been fun to collaborate with the kids!
Sing
Still Alive
It might have been decades since the Carpenters first released their albums, but did you know that their music is, quite literally, still alive? Up until now, their albums continue to do well in the market. Not only that, the sales are comparable to that of active artists. Wow!
Still Alive
Music For Charity
It is safe to say that the Carpenters was the people’s band. In fact, they had a softball team that raised funds for the Cancer Society in Middlesex County. Interestingly, Karen was the pitcher on the team and they even competed with other celebrity teams!
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”! The show of support worked. Fans will still be able to find the Carpenter home intact in Downey, California.
The Carpenters Graceland
Karen’s Ghost
There have been many ghost sightings and the witnesses claim that it must be Karen. There have been no reports of sightings in their home, but some employees at the Jim Henson Company claim that there are frequent reports of an apparition in Karen’s old dressing room.
Karens Ghost
Continuing The Legacy
There might be some truth that the siblings did not always get along, but Richard has nonetheless put in a lot of effort to continue their legacy. He has since released some of the works they have collaborated on together. Fans were also delighted to hear Karen’s raw soundtracks.
Continuing The Legacy
Karen’s Influence
Karen had a lot of fans among us, but she was also cited as an influence by several musical artists as well. These include Kim Gordon, K. D. Lang, Shania Twain, and Sheryl Crow. Even Madonna revealed that Karen Carpenter influenced the music she puts out!
Karens Influence
Notable Partners
Of course, her influence is not limited to her musical charms. Karen was also able to charm people with her great personality. Karen once dated Alan Osmond, Mike Curb, Steve Marten, and Tony Danza. Rumor has it that Elvis Presley once had his eyes on her as well.
Notable Partners
Elvis’ Proposal
Karen was undeniably attractive and she even caught the attention of the biggest star at the moment, Elvis Presley. How did the rumors begin? Apparently, the King invited both Karen and singer Petula Clark to come by his hotel room for a ménage a trois. “He was very amused by that. It was probably the first time anyone had ever turned him down,” Clark said when she recounted the awkward moment.
Elvis Proposal
Late Compliments
When Karen passed away, a lot of artists spoke about the Carpenters and the young woman in particular. One of these talented musicians would be Paul McCartney from the Beatles. According to him, Karen had one of the best voices of all time! Now that is incredibly high praise!
Late Compliments
Not Enough Information
A lot of people has since learned that force feeding is not the proper way to help someone suffering from an eating disorder. At the time, no one considered either anorexia or bulimia to be mental disorders. The conditions were greatly misunderstood and no one knew that a different form of therapy was necessary to cure it.
Not Enough Information
The Funeral
There were more than a thousand people who were physically present during Karen’s funeral. We’re sure that people were able to notice how thin she had become, but she did not disclose the fact that she was ill. Her death definitely exposed the hazards of eating disorders and made people take these conditions more seriously.
The Funeral
Her First Diet
If we take a look at her personal history, Karen first decided to lose weight not long after her high school graduation. She went on the Stillman water diet and she allegedly lost a total of 25 pounds during the entire ordeal. She received a lot of compliments on losing that much weight. This is generally regarded as the beginning of her struggles with dieting.
Her First Diet
A New Diet
You are probably wondering what exactly the Stillman diet is. It involves eschewing heavily processed and fatty foods, but it did not completely restrict the person from eating. In fact, the plan calls for six small meals every single day. Regular eating is actually encouraged. At this point, Karen became fixated on losing weight and she eventually weighed a mere 90 pounds.
A New Diet
Carving The Path
Karen tried to explain her strange eating habits while going on tour. Here was what she had to say about it: “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
Karen was apparently shocked when she saw herself in photos after performing at a Lake Tahoe show sometime in August 1973. She claimed that her stomach was clearly visible and she went on the hunt for a personal trainer to aid her in her quest to get “back into shape”. However, the trainer did not deliver the results that she wanted.
The Obsession
Bulking Up
Her personal trainer made her do rigorous workout sessions and follow a strict diet plan. Despite all of these, Karen did not like the results! While she certainly lost the paunch she was so worried about, there were developments that did not please her at all. The routine helped her get strong and develop muscles, but that was not what she was looking for. The personal trainer ended up being fired.
Bulking Up
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands
Karen was once again horrified after seeing herself when she watched their appearance on the Bob Hope Special. When she remarked that she gained some weight, Richard actually concurred with the observation. Karen said that she was going to “do something about it”. She got a hip cycle and began using it on the regular.
Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands
Eating Disorder
It wasn’t only exercise that Karen was overdoing. Her diet was also in a terrible state. Whenever she ate with her friends and family, they noticed that she never really ate but only subtly played around with her food so that it looks like she was eating. She also tried to reduce the portion of her meal by offering it to her companions! Her mother was not fooled, however, and did the same thing to her.
Eating Disorder
Trying To Conceal
When her weight was spiraling below 90 pounds, she had to put effort into hiding that there was something wrong. When it came to her wardrobe, Karen tried to hide her body by putting on as many layers of clothes as possible. Her agent Sherwin Bash saw through the trick. “She would start with a long-sleeved shirt and then put a blouse over that,” he explained, “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
A family friend, Evelyn Wallace, recalled one time that she saw Karen chilling in the garden. It was then that she realized that Karen’s body was nowhere near healthy. “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,” she recounted.
The Secret Starts To Come Out
The Public Notices
The eating disorder was quickly becoming more evident in her appearance and even fans took notice. Fans were worried about their idol, but they never thought it was anorexia. Most of them thought that she was losing weight due to a terminal disease like cancer.
The Public Notices
Richard Moves On
It was undoubtedly hard to lose his sister, but Richard had to move on. In 1984, he began his own family after marrying his adopted first cousin with whom he had five children. They honored his sister by naming one of their daughters after her and by giving another child the name Kristi Lynn, which Karen wanted to name her own child.
Richard Moves On
A Living Legacy
The family put up the “Carpenter Memorial Foundation”, an organization that focuses on supporting research about eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa. It has since changed its name to the “Carpenter Family Foundation” and expanded its projects to entertainment, education, and the arts.
A Living Legacy
Her Words Live On
Aside from the beautiful music that The Carpenters produce, the words Karen spoke have also been cherished. In fact there is a following of people who take her quotes as beacons of light and guidance. here are a few of them. They will truly make you think.
Her Words Live On
Fighting For Control
“I may not be in control of anything else, but I am in control of my body.” This is so powerful on so many levels. Karen was always fighting for love, but seeing as she wasn’t getting any, she needed to find a way to be in control of something.
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.” She tells it like it is, doesn’t she?
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.” What do you take away from this?
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!” And that’s exactly what she did.
Taking The Chance
Genuine Worries
One of the greatest dreams Karen had was to become a mother, but that doesn’t mean she thought it truly possible. “I’m just afraid I’m gonna miss it all… being married… being a mother.”
Genuine Worries
On Happiness
It’s as if she was talking about other people, and maybe she was but she was certainly referring to herself as well when she remarked, “Not enough people in this world are happy.”
On Happiness
The Health Industry
“I feel like the health industry is getting nothing but stronger every day.” Did this have any impact on the way that she viewed herself? We wonder.
The Health Industry
Honesty Is The Best Policy
Talking about their first single, she was quite level-headed about it. “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 look at the magic they produced.
Breaking Into The Industry
Mondays
It’s not just you, trust me, even celebrities don’t like Mondays. Karen once blankly 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!”
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.” This one is so sad.
Getting Help
Finding The One
Did Karen regret putting so much focus on her career? No. But she did see the result of doing so. “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
Karen Carpenter will always be missed for the light she shared with the world. She was taken too soon, but she will forever be remembered.
The Carpenters At The End