Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was a highly successful American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the popular 1970s duo, The Carpenters. In recent years, artists such as Madonna, Shania Twain, and k. d. lang, among others, have cited her as a musical influence. If I Were A Carpenter is a tribute album to the Carpenters featuring several alternative rock bands covering the tunes performed by Richard and Karen Carpenter. (One of the most acclaimed songs on this album is Sonic Youth's cover of "Superstar.")^[1] Karen was an accomplished drummer, placing first in Playboy's reader poll for Best Rock Drummer of 1975, thus pioneering the way for a plethora of female drummers to follow. She suffered from anorexia, a little known disease at the time, and eventually died from complications related to "recovering" from the illness at the age of 32, in 1983. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “New Haven” redirects here. ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Location of Downey in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Founded 1800s Incorporated 1956 Government  - Type Council-Manager government  - City Council David R. Gafin Mario A. Guerra Rick Trejo (Mayor) Anne Marie Bayer Kirk Cartozian Area  - City  12. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... A&M Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Universal Music Group. ... For other uses, see Carpenter (disambiguation). ... Richard Lynn Carpenter (b. ... Ludwig-Musser is a drum and percussion instrument manufacturer owned by Conn-Selmer, Inc. ... is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... For the comic book character, see Drummer (comics). ... Richard Lynn Carpenter (b. ... For other uses, see Carpenter (disambiguation). ... Look up Madonna in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Shania Twain, OC (born Eilleen Regina Edwards, August 28, 1965, Windsor, Ontario) is a Canadian singer and songwriter in the country and pop music genres. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... Alternative music redirects here. ... For other uses, see Playboy (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Anorexia. ...

Early life

Carpenter was born in New Haven, Connecticut to Agnes Reuwer Tatum and Harold Bertram Carpenter. ^[2] “New Haven” redirects here. ...

When she was young, she used to enjoy playing baseball with other children on the street. On the TV program, This Is Your Life, Carpenter stated that she liked pitching the ball. ^[3] In the early 1970s, she went on to play as the pitcher on the Carpenters' official softball team. This article is about the sport. ... This Is Your Life was a television documentary series hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards. ... This article is about the player in baseball. ...

Her brother Richard had developed an interest in music at an early age, becoming a piano prodigy. The family moved in June 1963 to the Los Angeles suburb of Downey, California. The move to Southern California, home of many recording studios and record companies, was intended in part to foster Richard's budding musical career. Wunderkind redirects here. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... Location of Downey in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Founded 1800s Incorporated 1956 Government  - Type Council-Manager government  - City Council David R. Gafin Mario A. Guerra Rick Trejo (Mayor) Anne Marie Bayer Kirk Cartozian Area  - City  12. ... This article is about the region of Southern California. ...

When Karen Carpenter went to Downey High School, she asked Richard to ask the conductor of the band if she could substitute band for gym class. The conductor agreed to take her into the band, and gave her the glockenspiel. After admiring the performance of a friend named Frankie Chavez, ^[4] she asked the conductor if she could play the drums instead. Downey High School is one of two senior high schools located in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey, California, and within the Downey Unified School District. ... Most orchestral glockenspiels are mounted in a case. ...

Drumming came naturally to Carpenter, and she practiced for several hours a day. Her drumming can be heard in many of the Carpenters' songs. When she was 17, Carpenter went on "The Stillman Diet" with a doctor's guidance, and lost between 20 and 25 pounds. The Stillman Diet was created by Irwin Maxwell Stillman M.D. Its an early form of the high protein and low carbohydrate diet. ...

In 1968, John Wayne met the Carpenters on a talent show called Your All American College Show. He urged Carpenter to try out for a role in the film True Grit. Carpenter auditioned, but actress Kim Darby was selected instead. For other persons named John Wayne, see John Wayne (disambiguation). ... True Grit by Charles Portis first appeared as a 1968 short story in The Saturday Evening Post. ... Kim Darby (born Deborah Zerby on July 8, 1947 in Los Angeles, California although her father insisted on calling her Derby Zerby because he believed it was a great stagename) is an American actress, daughter of professional dancers John and Inga Zerby. ...

Music career

From 1965 to 1968 Karen was a part of The Richard Carpenter Trio, with brother Richard and his college friend Wes Jacobs, a bassist and tuba player. The trio played jazz at numerous nightclubs, and also on Your All American College Show, though Bill Sissyoev played bass for the TV appearance. Richard Lynn Carpenter (b. ... Deon Rexroat of Anberlin. ... For other uses, see Tuba (disambiguation). ...

Karen, Richard, and other musicians, including Gary Sims and John Bettis, would also perform as an ensemble known as Spectrum. Spectrum focused on a harmonious, vocal sound, and recorded many demo tapes in the garage studio of friend and bassist Joe Osborn. John Bettis is a lyricist who has co-written many famous popular songs over the years. ... 1937- American electric bass virtuoso, notable for his work as a session musician in Los Angeles and Nashville during the period from the 1960s through the 1980s. ...

Carpenter signed with A&M Records with her brother as "Carpenters" on April 22, 1969. She sang most of the songs on their first album, Ticket to Ride. Their only single released from that album, the title song, only reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. Their next album, 1970's Close to You, contained two RIAA Certified Gold Records: "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun." They peaked at #1 and #2, respectively. The latter song was written by Paul Williams and was originally used in a commercial for Crocker International Bank, which showed a young couple moving into their first home. A&M Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Universal Music Group. ... Offering is the first album by American music duo The Carpenters. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... Close to You is a 1970 album by The Carpenters. ... Close to You track listing Side one Weve Only Just Begun Love is Surrender Maybe Its You Reason to Believe Help! (They Long to Be) Close to You Side two Baby Its You Ill Never Fall in Love Again Crescent Noon Mr. ... Weve Only Just Begun is a song first recorded by Carpenters, and still much in demand as a wedding anthem. ...

By the mid-1970s, extensive touring and lengthy recording sessions had begun to take their toll on the duo and contributed to their professional difficulties during the latter half of the decade. Karen started out as both the drummer and singer. Since Karen was the lead singer on the albums, she was pressured to only sing, while another person played the drums during live concerts. It was then agreed that she would only stand up for the popular ballads, and would perform from behind the drums on album cuts.

Karen rarely selected the songs she would sing, and often felt she had very little control over her life. The rock-and-roll press did not like having to write about this middle-of-the road brother and sister act and sometimes wrote negative reviews about their image or dress, yet never about Karen's voice or the meticulous arrangements of their music. Carpenter dieted obsessively and developed the disorder anorexia nervosa, which first manifested itself in 1975 when an exhausted and emaciated Karen Carpenter was forced to cancel concert tours in the UK and Japan. At the same time, Richard developed an addiction to quaaludes, which began to affect his performance by the late 1970s and led to the end of the duo's live concert appearances for several years. On September 4, 1978, the Carpenters gave their last live concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas until 1981 with the release of the Made in America album, which included their final live performance together. For other uses, see Anorexia. ... Methaqualone1 is an addictive, sedative drug. ... is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... Made in America is the last album released by The Carpenters during Karen Carpenters lifetime. ...

As a Drummer

Karen's drumming was praised by fellow drummers Hal Blaine, Cubby O'Brien, Buddy Rich and "Modern Drummer" magazine. ^[5] Most people are unaware that Karen had an impeccable ability to play the drums, in part because the public wanted a singing Karen Carpenter; not a drumming Karen Carpenter. However, according to Richard Carpenter in an interview, Karen always considered herself as a "drummer who sang." Hal Blaine (b. ... Carl Patrick OBrien (born July 14, 1946), who generally goes by the nickname of Cubby, is a professional American drummer, and a former child actor, who is best known for having been a Mouseketeer. ... Bernard Buddy Rich (September 30, 1917 Brooklyn, New York – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. ... Modern Drummer is the oldest magazine (still being published) devoted to the subject of drumming and percussion. ...

Carpenter first started playing the drums in 1964, shortly after moving to Downey, California. She was always enthusiastic about the drums, and taught herself how to play complicated drum lines with "exotic time signatures" (quoting Richard Carpenter from the "Close to You" documentary). Songs that effectively demonstrate her drumming abilities include "Caravan" and "Iced Tea," from 1965 and 1966, respectively.

After the release of "Now & Then" in 1973, the albums tended to have Karen singing more and drumming less. By 1981, Karen played on none of the songs, and drummers Hal Blaine and Ron Tutt substituted for Karen.

As a Singer

Karen's voice has almost always been lauded for her impeccable phrasing and control. She always sang at the perfect pitch, regardless of the situation. Her vocal quality was melancholy, which is demonstrated in their hit "Superstar" from 1971. Her voice is also associated with Christmas music, because of the holiday favorite, "Merry Christmas Darling" from 1970 (later re-recorded in 1978). Superstar is a 1969 song written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett, that has been a hit for many artists in different genres and interpretations in the years since; the most known version is by The Carpenters in 1971. ... Merry Christmas Darling by The Carpenters was originally recorded in 1970. ...

In the 1960s, Karen's voice was raspier and deeper, which is demonstrated in their early demo "Looking for Love" from 1966. However, during the 1970s, Karen's voice transformed into one of a smoother, cleaner quality. Richard had always stated in interviews that he told Karen that she should use "the basement," referring to her lower register, as opposed to her higher register.

During Karen's solo sessions in New York in 1979, Carpenter, who was suffering anorexia nervosa at the time, decided to test her higher register, and decided to record the songs with a higher, pitchier voice. The A&M staff weren't enthused by the songs recorded, so she decided to not release it, and to have it shelved. In 1983 and 1989, Richard slowly released more of Carpenter's solo songs. In 1996, Carpenter finally decided to release most of Karen's solo songs on Carpenter's self-entitled, posthumous album.

Solo album

In 1979, Richard Carpenter took a year off to cure a dependency on quaaludes ^[6], and Karen decided to make a solo album with producer Phil Ramone. Richard wanted his sister to see a doctor about her eating disorder, but Karen refused. While staying at the home of the Ramones, Karen took half of a quaalude tablet and passed out on the floor. ^[7] She soon recovered. Phil Ramone is a violinist, composer, recording engineer, and innovative record producer born in 1934. ...

Karen's choice of more adult-oriented and disco/dance-tempo material represented an effort to retool her image. "Something's Missing (In My Life)," which didn't make it on to the final album, remains unmixed and without strings. Other unreleased songs are now available on the internet as bootlegs. Her solo works are markedly different from usual Carpenters fare, with more sexual lyrics and the use of Karen's higher vocal register.

The resulting product met a tepid response from Richard and A&M executives in early 1980, and Karen wavered in her dedication to the project. The album was shelved by A&M executive Herb Alpert as a result of Karen's decision to never release the songs. In the process, Carpenter had to pay $400,000, and wasn't pleased. ^[8] Carpenters fans got a taste of the album in 1989 when some of its tracks (as remixed by Richard) were mixed onto the album Lovelines. Seven years later in 1996, the entire album, featuring mixes approved by Karen before her death and one unmixed bonus track, were finally released. Herbert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935 in Los Angeles, California) is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass or as Herb Alperts Tijuana Brass or just TJB for short - a now-defunct brass band of which he was the... Lovelines is a Carpenters album released in 1989. ...

Personal life

Karen lived with her parents until she was in her mid-20s. After the Carpenters became successful in the early 1970s, she and her brother bought two apartment buildings in Downey. Called "Close To You" and "Only Just Begun," the "Close To You" apartment can still be found at 8356 East 5th, Downey, CA.

In 1976, Karen bought two Century City apartments, gutted them, and turned them into one condominium. Located at 2222 Avenue of the Stars, the doorbell chimed the first six notes of "We've Only Just Begun". As a housewarming gift, her mother gave her a collection of leather-bound classic works of literature. Carpenter collected Disney memorabilia, loved to play softball and baseball, and listed Petula Clark, Olivia Newton-John, and Dionne Warwick among her friends. Century City is the name of: A neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, USA. See: Century City, Los Angeles, California. ... Disney may refer to: The Walt Disney Company and its divisions, including Walt Disney Pictures. ... Petula Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932), is an English singer, actress and composer best known for her upbeat popular international hits of the 1960s. ... Olivia Newton-John AO OBE (born 26 September 1948) is a Grammy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated English-born Australian pop singer, songwriter and actress. ... Marie Dionne Warrick (born December 12, 1940), known professionally as Dionne Warwick, is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award-winning African American singer best known for her work with Hal David and Burt Bacharach as songwriters and producers. ...

Karen Carpenter before her wedding to Tom Burris on August 31, 1980.

Karen's busy schedule kept her from having any serious long-term relationships. She dated Mike Curb, Tony Danza, Steve Martin, and Alan Osmond. Ms. Carpenter went out with songwriter Tom Bahler, and broke up with him after she found out he had fathered a child with a married woman; this breakup inspired Bahler to write the Michael Jackson song She's Out of My Life. ^[9]. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Michael Curb (born December 24, 1944 in Savannah, Georgia) is an American musician, record company executive, race car owner (in both NASCAR and IRL), and politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979 until 1983. ... Tony Danza. ... For other uses, see Steve Martin (disambiguation). ... Alan Osmond (born June 22, 1949) was a member of the 1970s group The Osmonds. ... Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the King of Pop, is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. ... Shes Out of My Life was the fourth single to be released by singer Michael Jackson from his hugely-successful album, Off the Wall in 1980. ...

After a whirlwind romance, Karen married real estate developer Thomas James Burris on August 31, 1980. When they met, Burris was 39 years old and divorced, and Carpenter was 30. The couple were married at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the Crystal Room. A new song performed by Carpenter at the ceremony, "Because We Are In Love," was released in 1981. The couple went to Bora Bora for their honeymoon. Carpenter called her family from the island and described it as "Boring Boring."^[10] The marriage became a disaster, and they filed for divorce in November 1981. (The divorce never took place, as it was scheduled to be finalized on the day Carpenter died.) After going out with Carpenter's parents to celebrate her father's birthday, Karen and Thomas returned to the Carpenters' Downey home and, after a brief argument, Burris told Carpenter's parents, "You can keep her!" Carpenter never saw her husband after that night. ^[11] is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... The Beverly Hills Hotel is a hotel on Sunset Blvd in Beverly Hills, CA. It was opened on May 12, 1912 and started by Margaret J. Anderson and her son, Stanley S. Anderson. ... Touch Me When Were Dancing is a song written by Terry Skinner, J. L. Wallace, and Kenny Bell. ... Mount Otemanu, Bora Bora Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort, Bora Bora Frigate Flor al, stationned in Bora-Bora lagoon Bora Bora is an atoll in French Polynesia, about 260 km northwest of the capital, Papeete. ...

The song "Now," recorded in April 1982, was the last song Karen Carpenter recorded. She recorded it after a two-week intermission in her therapy with psychotherapist Steven Levenkron in New York City for her anorexia, a relatively unknown disease at the time. In the midst of her therapy, she befriended recovered anorexic Cherry Boone, and embroidered a sign that read, "You Win, I Gain!" which she gave to Steve Levenkron. After her recovery, she planned to go public about her battle with anorexia. Steven Levenkron (born 1941) is a psychotherapist known for his research into resercher of anorexia and self-mutilation. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Cheryl Lynn Boone ONeill (born July 7, 1954 in Denton, Texas) is an American writer, singer and recovered anorexic. ...

Carpenter returned to California permanently later that year, determined to reinvigorate her career, finalize her divorce and begin recording a new album with Richard. She had gained 30 pounds over a two-month stay in New York, and the sudden weight gain (much of which was the result of intravenous feeding) further strained her heart, which was already weak from years of crash dieting. At the height of her illness, Carpenter, who had a normal thyroid, was taking ten times the normal daily dose of thyroid replacement medication (equivalent to 1 milligram, as opposed to the normal 100 microgram dose), in order to speed up her metabolism. This, combined with heavy doses of laxatives, weakened her heart and digestive and nervous systems even further. Synthroid is the brand name used by Abbott Laboratories for levothyroxine sodium (T4, a synthetic thyroid hormone) product. ... The milligram (symbol mg) is an SI unit of mass. ... In the metric system, a microgram is 1/1,000,000 of a gram, or 1/1000 of a milligram, is one of the smallest units of weight/mass commonly used. ...

On December 17, 1982 Karen Carpenter made her last public singing appearance at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. She sang Christmas carols for friends. In late January 1983, Richard and Karen took part in a group photograph of Grammy winners, Los Angeles. December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music...

A few weeks before Karen died, Richard tried to get his sister into a hospital for medical treatment, because "She didn't look well... there was no life in her eyes." ^[12] At a meeting with Werner Wolfen, the Carpenters' financial advisor, two weeks prior to her death, Karen told Richard to mind his own business and that she had her problem under control.

Death

On February 4, 1983, approximately a month before her thirty-third birthday, Carpenter experienced heart failure at her parents' home in Downey and was taken to Downey Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead twenty minutes later at the age of 32. She suffered cardiac arrest at 09.51 AM Pacific Standard Time. The LA Coroner gave the cause of death as "heartbeat irregularities brought on by chemical imbalances associated with anorexia nervosa". is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ...

The autopsy stated that Carpenter's death was the result of emetine cardiotoxicity due to anorexia nervosa. Under the anatomical summary, the first item was heart failure, with anorexia as second. The third finding was cachexia, which is extremely low weight and weakness and general body decline associated with chronic disease. Emetine cardiotoxicity implies that Carpenter abused ipecac syrup, an easily obtained emetic medicine that is only meant to be taken by persons who have accidentally swallowed poison. Cardiotoxicity is the occurrence of heart muscle damage. ... Syrup of Ipecac (derived from the dried rhizome and roots of the Ipecacuanha plant), is an emetic—a substance used to induce vomiting. ... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ...

This finding was debated by both her late mother and her brother Richard. Both have stated that they never found any empty vial of ipecac in her apartment nor was there any evidence that Karen had been vomiting. Richard believes that Karen was not willing to do this because it could damage her vocal cords, relying on laxatives alone to maintain her low body weight.

A documentary in the 1990s quoting medical sources and those in her immediate circle, asserted that Karen Carpenter had actually died from "recovering" from anorexia—she was recovering from the disease but her quick weight gain placed enormous pressure on her heart, which had been weakened by years of malnutrition.

Her funeral service took place on February 8, 1983, at the Downey United Methodist Church. Carpenter, dressed in a rose colored suit, lay in an open white casket. Over a thousand mourners passed through to say goodbye, among them her friends Dorothy Hamill, Olivia Newton-John, Petula Clark, Cristina Ferrare, and Dionne Warwick. Carpenter's estranged husband Tom attended her funeral, where he took off his wedding ring and threw it into the casket^[13]. is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Olivia Newton-John AO OBE (born 26 September 1948) is a Grammy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated English-born Australian pop singer, songwriter and actress. ... Petula Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932), is an English singer, actress and composer best known for her upbeat popular international hits of the 1960s. ... Cristina Ferrare on the cover of her book Cristina Ferrare (born February 8, 1950) is a former supermodel, actress, author and television talk-show host. ... Marie Dionne Warrick (born December 12, 1940), known professionally as Dionne Warwick, is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award-winning African American singer best known for her work with Hal David and Burt Bacharach as songwriters and producers. ...

After death

Carpenter's death brought lasting media attention to anorexia nervosa and also to bulimia. Carpenter's death encouraged other celebrities to go public about their eating disorders, among them Tracey Gold and Diana, Princess of Wales. Medical centers and hospitals began receiving increased contacts from people with these disorders. The general public had little knowledge of anorexia nervosa and bulimia prior to Carpenter's death, making the condition difficult to identify and treat. Her fame and her "wholesome" image may have made people reluctant to confront the possibility that she had a problem, much less to intervene directly. For other uses, see Anorexia. ... Bulimia nervosa, more commonly known as bulimia, is a psychological condition in which the subject engages in recurrent binge eating followed by intentionally doing one or more of the following in order to compensate for the intake of the food and prevent weight gain: vomiting inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas... Cover of Tracey Golds 2003 book. ... Princess Diana redirects here. ...

Her family started the "Karen A. Carpenter Memorial Foundation," which raised money for research on anorexia nervosa and eating disorders. Today the name of the organization has been changed to the "Carpenter Family Foundation." In addition to eating disorders, the foundation now funds the arts, entertainment and education.

Carpenters' star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame

On October 12, 1983, the Carpenters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 6931 Hollywood Blvd, a few yards from the Kodak Theater ^[14]. Richard, Harold, and Agnes Carpenter attended the inauguration, as did many fans. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2580 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2580 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Buskers perform on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. ... The Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. ...

In 1987, movie director Todd Haynes illegally used songs by Richard and Karen in his movie "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story." In the movie, Haynes portrayed the Carpenters as Barbie dolls. Richard decided to sue Haynes for copyright infringement and won. "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story" was then pulled from distribution. Maverick, onetime New Queer Cinema director Todd Haynes was born on January 2, 1961, in Encino, California, and has had a controversial career. ... Information Occupation See: Barbies careers Family See: List of Barbies friends and family Created by Ruth Handler Barbie is a best-selling fashion doll launched in 1959. ...

On January 1, 1989, TV movie, The Karen Carpenter Story aired on CBS with Cynthia Gibb in the title role. Gibb lip-synced the songs, (which were sung by Karen Carpenter). "The Karen Carpenter Story" is not to be confused with Haynes' "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story." The Karen Carpenter Story is a TV movie that aired on CBS in 1989. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... Cynthia Gibb (born December 14, 1963 in Bennington, Vermont, USA) is an American actress and former model who has starred in film and on television. ...

Sonic Youth recorded "Tunic (Song for Karen)," a song about Karen's anorexia. It can be found on their 1990 album Goo. Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City in 1981. ... Goo is an album by alternative rock band Sonic Youth, released on June 26, 1990. ...

The Carpenter Mausoleum

On December 11, 2003, at 12:30pm PST, Agnes, Karen, and Harold, who remained in their original caskets and occupied 3 out of the 6 spaces in the Carpenter Private Mausoleum, were exhumed from the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California and re-interred at the Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California. Their mausoleum is a 46,000-pound, Partenope-style structure and was constructed in Texas over seven months. It is polished sunset red, and features crystal patterns. It is located in the Tranquility Gardens section of the cemetery. Similar structures constructed at the time had a price range around $600,000. is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Cypress within Orange County, California. ... Location of Westlake Village in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country United States of America State California County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1981-12-11 [2] Government  - Mayor Susan McSweeney [1] Area  - City  5. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ...

"A Star on Earth - A Star in Heaven" was written on Carpenter's mausoleum stone prior to its move to the Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Lists containing Karen Carpenter

1999 - VH1 ranked Karen Carpenter at #29 on their list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll. ^[15]. VH1 (VH-1: Video Hits One until 1994) is an American cable television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently part of the MTV Networks division...

2001 - VH1 ranked Karen Carpenter's death from anorexia nervosa at #93 on their 100 Greatest Shocking Moments in Rock and Roll. ^[16]. VH1 (VH-1: Video Hits One until 1994) is an American cable television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently part of the MTV Networks division...

2003 - E! ranked Karen Carpenter's death at #30 on their list of the Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment. ^[17] E!: Entertainment Television is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite network. ...

2006 - Entertainment Tonight ranked Karen Carpenter's death from anorexia nervosa at #3 on their list of the Top 25 Stories in 25 Years. ^[18] Entertainment Tonight is a daily television entertainment news show that is syndicated by CBS Paramount Domestic Television throughout the United States, Canada, on the Nine Network in Australia and on UBC Inside in Thailand. ...

Albums

Studio albums

• Offering (later reissued as 'Ticket To Ride') (1969)
• Close to You (1970)
• Carpenters (1971)
• A Song for You (1972)
• Now & Then (1973)
• The Singles: 1969-1973 (1973)
• Horizon (1975)
• A Kind of Hush (1976)
• Passage (1977)
• Christmas Portrait (1978)
• The Singles: 1974-1978 (1978)
• Made in America (1981)
• Voice of the Heart (1983)
• An Old-Fashioned Christmas (1984)
• Lovelines (1989)
• As Time Goes By (2003)

Offering is the first album by American music duo The Carpenters. ... Close to You is a 1970 album by The Carpenters. ... Carpenters is the third studio album by The Carpenters. ... A Song for You is the fourth album released by the Carpenters. ... Now & Then is an album from The Carpenters, released on 9 May 1973. ... Horizon is a 1975 album by musical American duo The Carpenters. ... A Kind of Hush is an album by American popular music duo The Carpenters. ... Passage is an album by American popular music duo The Carpenters. ... Christmas Portrait is a Christmas album from The Carpenters, released on 13 October 1978. ... Made in America is the last album released by The Carpenters during Karen Carpenters lifetime. ... Voice of the Heart is an album by American pop duo The Carpenters. ... Lovelines is a Carpenters album released in 1989. ... As Time Goes By was first released in 2000 in Japan, but the CD had some copyright issues. ...

Solo albums

• Karen Carpenter (1996)

Karen Carpenter is a solo CD released by A&M Records in 1996. ...

References

Promotional photograph of author Ray Coleman, from the back cover of his final book, Phil Collins: The Definitive Biography. ... VH1 (VH-1: Video Hits One until 1994) is an American cable television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently part of the MTV Networks division... For the album by The Soundtrack of Our Lives, see Behind the Music (album). ...

External links

• Richard and Karen Carpenter - Official site
• Make Your Own Kind of Music - 1971 Summer Television Series
• Karen Carpenter at the Internet Movie Database
• The Karen Carpenter Story at the Internet Movie Database
• Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story at the Internet Movie Database