Karen Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American vocalist and drummer who, along with her older brother Richard, formed half of the phenomenally popular duo the Carpenters.
Her classmates appreciated her vocal abilities, which included a remarkable three-octave contralto range. Carpenter’s music continues to get accolades, including a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest vocalists of all time in 2010.
Who is Karen Carpenter?
Karen Carpenter was born on March 2, 1950, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Agnes Reuwer (March 5, 1915 – November 10, 1996) and Harold Bertram Carpenter (November 8, 1908 – October 15, 1988). Harold was born in the Chinese city of Wuzhou, where his parents were missionaries. He was educated at boarding schools in the United Kingdom before finding work in the printing industry.
Richard Carpenter, Carpenter’s lone sibling by three years, acquired an interest in music at a young age and became a piano prodigy. Karen’s first words were “bye-bye” and “stop it”, the latter in reaction to Richard. She adored dancing and was engaged in tap dancing and ballet classes at the age of four; later, she enjoyed playing street softball.
In June 1963, the family relocated to the Los Angeles suburb of Downey when Harold was given a job there by a former business friend. Carpenter enrolled in Downey High School in 1964, when she was 14 years old and a year younger than her classmates.
She joined the school marching band to avoid having to exercise during gym class. The conductor, Bruce Gifford (who had previously taught her brother), gave her the glockenspiel, which she disliked, and after admiring the performance of her friend and classmate, drummer Frankie Chavez (who had been playing since she was a child and idolized jazz drummer Buddy Rich), she asked if she could play those instead.
Carpenter desired a Ludwig drum set because her favorite drummers, Joe Morello and Ringo Starr, used them. Chavez got her family to buy her a $300 Ludwig kit (the equivalent of $2,800 in 2022), and he began teaching her how to play.
How old was Karen Carpenter when she died?
She passed away very young, at the age of 32.
What was Karen Carpenter net worth?
The renowned singer had a net worth of $6 million at the time of her death in 1983.
What was Karen Carpenter nationality and ethnicity?
Carpenter held American Nationality and belonged to an unknown ethnicity
What was Karen Carpenter career?
Carpenter, her brother Richard, and his friend Wes Jacobs founded the Dick Carpenter Trio while still in high school in 1965. The band performed in nightclubs and on the talent show “Your All-American College Show.” The group was invited to audition for a session with bassist Joe Osborn in 1966. Carpenter wowed everyone at the audition with her wonderful voice, prompting Osborn to sign her to his label Magic Lamp Records. Carpenter left the group the next year to attend the Juilliard School. When she returned to the band, she and her brother recruited new members to establish Spectrum.
Carpenter and her brother Richard formed the music duo the Carpenters when they signed to A&M Records in 1969. She was the drummer as well as the co-lead singer at first. The Carpenters went on to create their debut studio album, originally titled “Offering” but eventually renamed “Ticket to Ride” after the duo’s cover of the titular Beatles song, which was the album’s lone small hit.
The Carpenters’ second album, 1970’s “Close to You,” was even more popular, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200. Furthermore, it gave birth to the smash singles “(They Long to Be) Close to You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun,” which charted at number one and number two, respectively. “Close to You” was nominated for eight Grammy Awards, winning two.
The Carpenters’ success continued with their third self-titled album, which featured the hit singles “For All We Know,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and “Superstar.” This was followed in 1972 by “A Song for You,” which spawned the number-one single “Top of the World.”
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
Categories: News
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
