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
Watch Karen Carpenter Videos
Click on an image below to watch a video.
Karen's Personal Life
Carpenter 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, Carpenter 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.
Carpenter's busy schedule reduced her involvement in serious long-term relationship. She dated Mike Curb, Tony Danza, Steve Martin, and Alan Osmond. 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.
After a whirlwind romance, Carpenter 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." read the rest of the Wikipedia article
Purchase Music CD's by The Carpenters
Clicking on an image below will take you to Amazon where you can purchase Karen's CD's.
Karen Carpenter Collectibles on eBay
Vintage record albums, autographed photographs, keychains, posters, ads & more.
Richard Nixon (edited out of the photo) meeting with Karen and Richard Carpenter on August 1, 1972.
Quick, what do you think of Karen Carpenter?
Books About Karen Carpenter
Yesterday Once More: Memories of the Carpenters and Their Music
The Complete Guide to the Music of the Carpenters
The Carpenters: The Untold Story : An Authorized Biography
Carpenters: Songs From the Television Series
Carpenters - Christmas Portrait
Karen Carpenter (They Died Too Young)
When Karen Carpenter began performing on television, I was really young and liked her immediately. I believe Karen's voice was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard, and her personality was sweet, fun and bubbly. I loved watching Karen and her brother, Richard, on television; and I tried my best to sing along to all of their songs. I think I would walk across hot coals to have a voice like Karen's! I hope you enjoy this lens about Karen Carpenter and stop by often to watch videos and see my latest updates.
Shout Out For Karen Carpenter!
Did you ever see Karen Carpenter perform live? Did you ever meet Karen? Please share your stories or thoughts with us or sign the guestbook simply to say, "hello"!
-
Reply
- Senora_M Senora_M Apr 27, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
- My mom was an extra in the Karen Carpenter story a while ago! Cool lens!! 5*s
FREE Samples and Freebies
-
Reply
- gutu toma constantin gutu toma constantin Feb 20, 2009 @ 10:02 am | in reply to gutu toma constantin
-
Reply
- vicky vicky Jan 18, 2009 @ 7:37 am
- i really fall in love with the voice of karen.i love the carpenters song alot.
-
Reply
- vicky vicky Jan 18, 2009 @ 7:36 am
- i really fall in love with the voice of karen.i love the carpenters song alot.
-
Reply
- john john Jan 13, 2009 @ 8:28 am
- it was April of 1974. I was 15 and was in the eighth row of the Capitol Music Hall, in Wheeling West Virginia. This was my first, and now, most memorable concert. As long as I can remember, The Carpenters had been an influential part of my music world. Karen's voice was so unique and simply beautiful that even at 15 I knew what class was. So, sitting in the eighth row, the two hours went by as quickly as two minutes. How I wanted to stay for the second show-to hide in a hallway, or simply stand in the back....but I'll always have that memory,
-
Reply
- gutu toma constantin gutu toma constantin Dec 5, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
- i think in fact i am sure that karen was a wonderful woman with a great voice.she and her brother have made special music and very nice songs ,which are many. they have made an extrordinary work which will remain an important event in the history of the music.i miss karen like many others. i wish to richard my best wishes and his own.good luck inthe next time.i love both of you for that you have done for us and international music. sincerely tomi and the family
-
Reply
- BeautySecrets BeautySecrets Sep 20, 2008 @ 9:55 am
- Seeing your lens about Karen Carpenter brings back alot of great memories for me Vicki. I really enjoyed the videos. Thanks for doing such a great job.
-
Reply
- viel karmela madria magloyuan viel karmela madria magloyuan Aug 27, 2008 @ 1:51 am
- hello fellows and visitors!this is karmela,a karen freak,really.i love her voice her face and everything she had except her disease.you know,it made me cry when i have watched her story at youtube,swear.i realized that inside this girl is a pain breaking her heart,though she may look happy and energetic outside.i would love to see her in person if she were still here on earth.but so sad,she left this awesome world full of her fans too early.i wish i could see her in Heaven when the right time come.karen,most of the people here on earth misses you so much.i love her songs more than the songs today.urgg,don't bug me..i really love the song od 70's.i wish i lived early at this world so that i could have seen her before she died.oh,everytime i watch her videos,i can't help myself not to cry.really.we love you karen,we really do.we miss u so much.even though you left this world too early,tnx,your songs are still loved.we really love you.i enjoyed my stay here.thanks for creating this site %u2665
-
Reply
- riff999 riff999 Mar 8, 2008 @ 2:21 am
- Too bad she died before her time. Enjoyed my stay.
~Jane
Other Lenses You Might Like...
- April Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together.[1] The band would go on to release over 20 albums and forge a live performance reputation...
- RETRO LOCO!™ We're Nuts for Nostalgia!™
Get ready to get BLASTED back to the past! There are so many great retro things here, from colorful Fiestaware to retro fans that will blow you smack into another decade, from sputnik starburst clocks to oilcloth table cloths, and from Tony Bennet...
- VINTAGE APRONS: Look Cute & Have Fun While Cooking & Cleaning!
A popular "Top 100" lens and "Lens of the Day" in December, 2007. Vintage aprons are cute, sexy and homey as well as functional items to have in the kitchen. Featured here are dozens of pretty vintage aprons that you can bid on or buy now from eBay, books and sewing patterns for making your own aprons, links to websites that sell vintage fabrics, books...
- VINTAGE VALENTINES: Sweet Little Cards & Very Romantic Gifts
Beautiful and unique vintage Valentine's Day gifts for your sweetheart.
by Retro_Loco
Hi, my name is Vicki, and I love anything and everything retro, vintage, antique and old. I am working on several different lenses (all retro-related,...
(more)Explore related pages
Nikki Had A Baby Born Face First in Fargo- Its rare to have a baby born face first, but Nikki and her loving husband now ha...
Karen Carpenter- Karen Carpenter was a very successful American singer and drummer. She was...
Greekgeek's Lensography- Interesting TopicsGreece Odyssey The Ancient World Mythology Quizzes Science and...
Bobby Jindal- Piyush "Bobby" Jindal (born June 10, 1971) is the Governor of the U.S. state of...
April Wine- April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they c...
RETRO LOCO!™ We're Nuts for Nostalgia!™- Get ready to get BLASTED back to the past! There are so many great retro things...
