Karen Carpenter
Background information
Birth name	Karen Anne Carpenter
Born	March 2, 1950(1950-03-02) New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Origin	Los Angeles, California, USA
Died	4 February 1983 (aged 32) Downey, California, USA
Genre(s)	Pop
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Drums, Percussion
Voice type(s)	Alto
Years active	1965–1983
Label(s)	A&M
Associated acts	Carpenters Richard Carpenter
Website	Richard and Karen Carpenter
Notable instrument(s)
Ludwig Drums

Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was a highly successful American singer and drummer. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County California, United States, 21 km (13 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells A voice type is a particular kind of human Singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics Alto is a musical term derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" that has several possible interpretations In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music A&M Records is an American Record label owned by Universal Music Group which operates through the Interscope-Geffen-A&M division The Carpenters were a vocal and instrumental duo consisting of Siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter. Richard Lynn Carpenter (born October 15 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut He frequently played the piano while his sister Karen played baseball outside Ludwig-Musser is a Drum and Percussion instrument Manufacturer owned by Conn-Selmer Inc Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A drummer is a Musician who plays a Drum or drums particularly a Drum kit ("drum set" or "trap set" Marching percussion She and her brother, Richard, formed the popular 1970s duo The Carpenters. Richard Lynn Carpenter (born October 15 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut He frequently played the piano while his sister Karen played baseball outside The Carpenters were a vocal and instrumental duo consisting of Siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter.

Carpenter 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. Playboy is an American Men's magazine, founded in Chicago Illinois, by Hugh Hefner and his associates which has grown into Playboy She suffered from anorexia nervosa, 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. Anorexia Nervosa is a psychiatric Diagnosis that describes an Eating disorder characterized by low Body weight and Body image distortion ^[1]

In recent years, artists such as Shania Twain and k.d. Lang, among others, have cited her as a musical influence. Shania Twain ʃəˈnaɪə 'tweɪn OC (born Eilleen Regina Edwards, August 28 1965 is a Canadian Singer and Songwriter in the kd lang, OC (born Kathryn Dawn Lang, November 2, 1961) is a Grammy Award -winning Canadian Singer and ^[2]

Early life

Carpenter was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Agnes Reuwer Tatum and Harold Bertram Carpenter. ^[3] When she was young, she used to enjoy playing baseball with other children on the street. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each On the TV program, This Is Your Life, Carpenter stated that she liked pitching. This Is Your Life was a television documentary series hosted by its producer Ralph Edwards. ^[4] In the early 1970s, she went on to play as the pitcher on the Carpenters' official softball team. In Baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the Pitcher's mound toward the Catcher to begin each play with the goal of ^[5]

Carpenter's brother, Richard, had developed an interest in music at an early age, becoming a piano prodigy. List of child prodigies|Fictional child prodigies A child prodigy is a one who masters one or more skills or arts at an early age The family moved in June 1963 to the Los Angeles suburb of Downey. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County California, United States, 21 km (13 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The move to Southern California, home of many recording studios and record companies, was intended in part to foster Richard's budding musical career. Southern California, or So Cal, is defined as the southern portion of the U

When Carpenter went to Downey High School, she asked Richard to ask the conductor of the band if she could substitute band for gym class. Downey High School is one of two Senior high schools located in the Los Angeles Suburb of Downey California, and within the Downey Unified The conductor agreed to take her into the band, and gave her the glockenspiel. The glockenspiel ( German, "set of bells quot or "play-bells" also known as orchestra bells and in its portable After admiring the performance of a friend named Frankie Chavez, she asked the conductor if she could play the drums instead. ^[6] Though her time with other instruments went nowhere, drumming came naturally to Carpenter, and she practiced for several hours a day. Her drumming can be heard in many of the Carpenters' songs, mainly those from 1969 to 1975.

Though uncharacteristically thin toward the end of her life, Carpenter struggled with her weight during her adolescent years. As a teenager, Karen was 5'4" (1. 63 m) and weighed 140 pounds (63. 5 kg). At the age of 17, she went on the Stillman Diet with a doctor's guidance, and lost between 20 and 25 pounds. The Doctor's Quick Weight Loss Diet ( The Stillman Diet) was created by Irwin Maxwell Stillman M She would stay at 120 pounds until 1973.

Music career

From 1965 to 1968, Carpenter, her brother Richard and his college friend Wes Jacobs, a bassist and tuba player, formed The Richard Carpenter Trio. Richard Lynn Carpenter (born October 15 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut He frequently played the piano while his sister Karen played baseball outside A bass player (bassist is a Musician who plays a Double bass, Bass guitar, keyboard bass or wind Mediatubaogg -->The tuba is the largest and lowest pitched Brass instrument. The trio played jazz at numerous nightclubs, and also on a talent show called Your All American College Show, though Bill Sissyoev played bass for the TV appearance. John Wayne met Richard and Karen on Your All American College Show. John Wayne ( May 26, 1907 &ndash June 11, 1979) was an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award -winning American He urged Carpenter to try out for a role in the film True Grit. True Grit is a 1969 western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring John Wayne as U Carpenter auditioned, but actress Kim Darby was selected instead. Kim Darby (born July 8, 1947) is an American Actress. Biography Darby was born Deborah Zerby in Los Angeles ^[7]

Karen, Richard, and other musicians, including Gary Sims and John Bettis, also performed as an ensemble known as Spectrum. John Bettis (born 24 October 1946) is an American Lyricist who has co-written many famous popular songs over the years Spectrum focused on a harmonious, vocal sound, and recorded many demo tapes in the garage studio of friend and bassist Joe Osborn. Joe Osborn (born 1937 in Mound in Madison Parish in northeastern Louisiana) is an American Bass guitar virtuoso notable for his work as a

Osborn's studio shut down in 1967, even though he let Richard and Karen record demo tapes in his garage. However, the duo was rejected due to their different sound. According to former Carpenters member, John Bettis, their rejections "took their toll". ^[8]

Carpenter signed with A&M Records with her brother as "Carpenters" on April 22, 1969. A&M Records is an American Record label owned by Universal Music Group which operates through the Interscope-Geffen-A&M division Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. She sang most of the songs on their first album, Ticket to Ride. Ticket to Ride is the first album by the American music duo The Carpenters. 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. " We've Only Just Begun " is The Carpenters ' Signature song. " They peaked at #1 and #2, respectively. The latter song was written by Paul Williams and was originally used in a commercial for Crocker National Bank, which showed a young couple moving into their first home. Paul Williams may refer to Music Paul Williams (The Temptations (1939–1973 tenor/baritone from the popular Motown act The Temptations Crocker National Bank was a United States Bank headquartered in San Francisco California

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 group's drummer and lead singer. Since Karen was the lead singer on the albums, she was pressured to sing only, 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.

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 rarely selected the songs she would sing, and often felt she had very little control over her life. She dieted obsessively and developed 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. Anorexia Nervosa is a psychiatric Diagnosis that describes an Eating disorder characterized by low Body weight and Body image distortion The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.

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. Methaqualone is a Sedative drug which is similar in effect to Barbiturates a general CNS Depressant. 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. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip, which opened as a Hollywood themed resort Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally

As a drummer

Karen's drumming was praised by fellow drummers Hal Blaine, Cubby O'Brien, Buddy Rich and Modern Drummer magazine. Hal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky 5 February 1929, Holyoke Massachusetts) is an US Drummer and Session musician Carl Patrick O'Brien (born July 14, 1946) who generally goes by the nickname of "Cubby" is a professional American Drummer, and a Bernard "Buddy" Rich ( September 30 1917 &ndash April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and Bandleader For the song "Modern Drummer" by The American Analog Set see Promise of Love Modern Drummer is the oldest magazine (still ^[9] Many people are unaware that Karen had an impeccable ability to play the drums, in part because the public wanted a singing Karen Carpenter, rather than a drumming Karen Carpenter. However, according to Richard Carpenter in an interview, Karen always considered herself a "drummer who sang. "

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, with drummers Hal Blaine and Ron Tutt as substitutes. Hal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky 5 February 1929, Holyoke Massachusetts) is an US Drummer and Session musician

As a singer

Considered by many to be one of the finest female vocalists of her generation, Karen Carpenter's voice has almost always been lauded for the pure and natural sound, her impeccable phrasing, resonance, and consistent perfect pitch. Her vocal quality (which admittedly has been matched by few) was melancholic, as demonstrated in their hit "Superstar" from 1971. " Superstar " is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney Bramlett, and Leon Russell which has been a hit for many artists in different genres Her voice became associated with Christmas music due to her performance of the holiday favorite, "Merry Christmas, Darling" from 1970 (also re-recorded in 1978). "Merry Christmas Darling" by The Carpenters was written by Richard Carpenter & Frank Pooler and originally recorded in 1970

Prior to this, in the 1960s, Karen's voice was raspy and deep, which is demonstrated in their early demo "Looking for Love" from 1966. Richard stated in interviews that he told Karen that she should use "the basement," referring to her lower register, as opposed to her higher register. However, during the 1970s, Karen's voice transformed into one of a smoother, cleaner quality. During her Phil Ramone-produced solo sessions in New York in 1979, Karen, who was suffering from anorexia nervosa at the time, decided to test her higher register, and record the songs with a higher pitched voice. Phil Ramone is a Violinist, Composer, Recording engineer, and The A&M staff weren't enthused; either by the vocals, or by the overtly sexual nature of the lyrics, so she decided to shelve the album. In 1983 and 1989, Richard slowly released more of Karen's solo songs. In 1996, Richard finally decided to release most of her solo songs on her self-titled, posthumous album.

Solo album

In 1979, Richard Carpenter took a year off to cure a dependency on quaaludes,^[10] and Karen decided to make a solo album with producer Phil Ramone. Methaqualone is a Sedative drug which is similar in effect to Barbiturates a general CNS Depressant. Phil Ramone is a Violinist, Composer, Recording engineer, and Richard wanted his sister to see a doctor about her eating disorder, but Karen refused. While staying at the home of Ramone and his family, Karen took half of a quaalude tablet and passed out on the kitchen floor. ^[11] Ramone and his wife moved the singer to the living room couch and called paramedics to the house. A paramedic is a medical professional usually a member of the emergency medical service, who primarily provides Pre-hospital advanced medical and Karen managed to convice all concerned that she was indeed fine and not in need of hospitalization. Ramone took a moment to remind Karen that quaaludes were the same pills that her brother had had an addiction to. He also added that even half of one in her small frame would be enough to drop an elephant.

Karen Carpenter'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, in spite of Quincy Jones' attempts to talk Alpert into allowing the release of the record. Herbert "Herb" Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American Musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert Quincy Delight Jones Jr (born March 14, 1933) also known as Q, is an American Music Impresario, conductor ^[12] According to Phil Ramone, Karen, who usually did not express her emotions in public, cried after being told her album was rejected. ^[13] In the process, she had to pay $400,000, and wasn't pleased. ^[14] The debt for the album's production was charged against future royalties of the Carpenters.

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. Lovelines is a 1989 album released by The Carpenters. In 1989 Richard Carpenter decided to release selected solo tracks by his sister Seven years later, in 1996, the entire album, featuring mixes approved by Karen before her death and one unmixed bonus track, was finally released.

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," both apartments can still be found at 8388 5th St, Downey, CA. Google maps has a street view of both apartments across the street from one another with the titles on the front of each.

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. Karen collected Disney memorabilia, loved to play softball and baseball, and listed Petula Clark, Olivia Newton-John and Dionne Warwick among her friends. Petula Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932 is an English singer actress and Composer best known for her upbeat popular international hits Olivia Newton-John, AO, OBE (born September 26 1948) is a Grammy Award -winning and Golden Globe -nominated English-born Dionne Warwick (born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12, 1940) is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award -winning singer actress activist

Karen's busy schedule reduced her involvement in serious long-term relationships. She dated Mike Curb, Tony Danza, Terry Ellis, Mark Harmon, Steve Martin and Alan Osmond. Michael Curb (born December 24, 1944, in Savannah Georgia) is an American Musician, Record company executive race car Tony Danza (born Antonio Salvatore Iadanza on April 21, 1951 in Brooklyn New York) is an American Actor best known for starring This article refers to Jethro Tull producer Terry Ellis For the En Vogue singer see Terry Ellis. Thomas Mark Harmon (better known as Mark Harmon; born September 2, 1951) is an American Actor. Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an Emmy Award -winning American Actor, Comedian, Writer, Alan Ralph Osmond (born June 22, 1949) was a member of the 1970s music group The Osmonds and the head of the Osmond Family Karen 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". Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29 1958 is an American musician entertainer and businessman " She's out of My Life " is a song that became famous as the fourth single to be released by Singer Michael Jackson from his successful ^[15]

After a whirlwind romance, Karen married real estate developer Thomas James Burris on August 31, 1980. Events 1056 - Byzantine Empress Theodora becomes ill dying suddenly a few days later without children to succeed the Throne Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) When they met, Burris was 39 years old and divorced, and Karen was 30. They were married at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the Crystal Room. The Beverly Hills Hotel is a Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA, at 9641 Sunset Boulevard. A new song performed by Karen at the ceremony, "Because We Are In Love," was released in 1981. " Touch Me When We're Dancing " is a song written by Terry Skinner J The couple went to Bora Bora for their honeymoon. Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Karen called her family from the island and described it as "Boring Boring. "^[16] However, they filed for divorce in November 1981. (The divorce never took place, as it was scheduled to be finalized on the day Karen died. ) After going out with Karen'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!" Karen never saw her husband after that night. ^[17]

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. Psychotherapy is an Interpersonal, relational intervention used by trained psychotherapists to aid clients in problems of living Steven Levenkron (born 1941 is a psychotherapist known for his research into Anorexia nervosa and Self-injury. The City of New York 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. Cheryl "Cherry" O'Neill (born Cheryl Lynn Boone July 7 1954 in Denton Texas) is an American writer author and singer After her recovery, she planned to go public about her battle with anorexia.

Karen returned to California permanently later that year, determined to reinvigorate her career, finalize her divorce and begin 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, Karen, 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. Levothyroxine, also known as L-thyroxine, synthetic T4, or 353'5'-tetraiodo-L-thyronine, is a synthetic form For other uses of the words gram or gramme see Gram (disambiguation. In the Metric system, a microgram is 1/1000000 of a Gram (1 × 10-6 or 1/1000 of a milligram is one of the smallest units of weight/mass commonly used This, combined with heavy doses of laxatives, weakened her heart and digestive and nervous systems even further. Laxatives (or purgatives) are foods compounds or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool most often taken to treat Constipation.

On December 17, 1982, Karen made her last public singing appearance at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) She sang Christmas carols for friends. A Christmas carol (also called a Noël) is a carol ( Song or Hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter In late January 1983, Richard and Karen took part in a group photograph of Grammy winners, Los Angeles. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

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. "^[18] At a meeting with Werner Wolfen, the Carpenters' financial advisor, two weeks prior to her death, Richard stated about the meeting with his sister. "Karen was hot as hell at me for even questioning how she looked. But I was glad that I took the time to tell her that to me she just didn't look right and that I loved her. I was glad I did that because ten days later she was gone. . . "^[19][20]

Death

On February 4, 1983, approximately a month before her thirty-third birthday, Carpenter experienced heart failure at her parents' home in Downey, California, and was taken to Downey Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead twenty minutes later. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) She suffered cardiac arrest at 9:51 AM Pacific Standard Time. A cardiac arrest, also known as cardiorespiratory arrest, cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest, is the abrupt cessation of normal circulation of The LA Coroner gave the cause of death as "heartbeat irregularities brought on by chemical imbalances associated with anorexia nervosa".

The autopsy stated that Carpenter's death was the result of emetine cardiotoxicity due to anorexia nervosa. Cardiotoxicity is the occurrence of heart muscle damage The heart becomes weaker and is not as efficient in pumping and therefore circulating blood Anorexia Nervosa is a psychiatric Diagnosis that describes an Eating disorder characterized by low Body weight and Body image distortion 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. Cachexia (kəˈkɛksiə is loss of weight, Muscle atrophy, fatigue weakness and significant loss of appetite in someone who is not actively trying to Emetine cardio toxicity 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. Syrup of ipecac commonly referred to as simply Ipecac is derived from the dried Rhizome and Roots of the Ipecacuanha plant and is a well-known Vomiting (also called throwing up, emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's Stomach through the Mouth and sometimes the

Both her late mother and her brother Richard debated this finding. 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. Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations 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. Dorothy Stuart Hamill (born July 26, 1956 in Chicago Illinois) is an American figure skater. Olivia Newton-John, AO, OBE (born September 26 1948) is a Grammy Award -winning and Golden Globe -nominated English-born Petula Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932 is an English singer actress and Composer best known for her upbeat popular international hits Cristina Ferrare (born February 8, 1950) is a former Fashion model, actress author and television talk-show host Dionne Warwick (born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12, 1940) is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award -winning singer actress activist Carpenter's estranged husband Tom attended her funeral, where he took off his wedding ring and threw it into the casket. ^[21]

After death

Carpenter's death brought lasting media attention to anorexia nervosa and also to bulimia. Anorexia Nervosa is a psychiatric Diagnosis that describes an Eating disorder characterized by low Body weight and Body image distortion Bulimia nervosa is an Eating disorder characterized by recurrent Binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors referred to as "purging" Carpenter's death encouraged other celebrities to go public about their eating disorders, among them Tracey Gold and Diana, Princess of Wales. Tracey Gold (born Tracey Claire Fisher on May 16, 1969 in New York City) is an American actress, best known for playing 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.

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. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a Sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood Los Angeles California, USA, that It is located at 6931 Hollywood Blvd. , a few yards from the Kodak Theater. The Kodak Theatre is a live theatre in the Hollywood and Highland retail dining and entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue ^[22] Richard, Harold and Agnes Carpenter attended the inauguration, as did many fans.

In 1987, movie director Todd Haynes used songs by Richard and Karen in his movie Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. Todd Haynes (born January 2, 1961, in Encino, California) is an award-winning American Film director. Superstar The Karen Carpenter Story is a 43 minute Film regarding the life of pop vocalist Karen Carpenter. In the movie, Haynes portrayed the Carpenters as Barbie dolls. Barbie is a best-selling fashion Doll launched in 1959 The doll is produced by Mattel Inc The movie was later pulled from distribution after Richard Carpenter won a court case involving song royalties; Haynes had not obtained legal permission to use The Carpenters' recordings. Royalties (sometimes running royalties) are usage-based payments made by one party (the "licensee" to another (the "licensor" for ongoing use of an

On January 1, 1989, TV movie The Karen Carpenter Story aired on CBS with Cynthia Gibb in the title role. The Karen Carpenter Story is a TV movie that aired on CBS on January 1, 1989. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Cynthia Gibb (born December 14, 1963 in Bennington Vermont, U Gibb lip-synced the songs to Carpenter's recorded voice. The Karen Carpenter Story is not to be confused with Haynes' "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. " (Both films use the song "This Masquerade" in the background while showing Karen's marriage to Burris).

In 1990, the alternative rock band Sonic Youth recorded "Tunic (Song for Karen)" for the 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. ^[23] Sung by Kim Gordon, the song deals with Carpenter's anorexia and death. Kim Althea Gordon (born April 28, 1953) is an American musician vocalist and artist

The Carpenter Mausoleum

On December 11, 2003, at 12:30 p. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. m. 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. Cypress is a city located in southern California near the northern border of Orange County. Westlake Village is a community which straddles the Ventura and Los Angeles County line encompassing all of the area surrounding the lake at Their mausoleum is a 46,000-pound, Partenope-style structure and was constructed in Texas over seven months. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. 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.

"A Star on Earth - A Star in Heaven" was written on Carpenter's mausoleum stone in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. It was also re-written in the new mausoleum.

Lists containing Karen Carpenter

1999 - VH1 ranked Karen Carpenter at #29 on their list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll. VH1 (known as VH-1 Video Hits One from 1985 to 1994 and VH1 Music First until 2003) is an American Cable television ^[24]

2001 - VH1 ranked Karen Carpenter's death from anorexia nervosa at #93 on their 100 Greatest Shocking Moments in Rock and Roll. VH1 (known as VH-1 Video Hits One from 1985 to 1994 and VH1 Music First until 2003) is an American Cable television ^[25]

2003 - E! ranked Karen Carpenter's death at #30 on their list of the Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment. E! Entertainment Television (or simply E!) is an American Cable television and Direct broadcast satellite network ^[26]

2006 - Entertainment Tonight ranked Karen Carpenter's death from anorexia nervosa at #3 on their list of the Top 25 Stories in 25 Years. Entertainment Tonight is a daily Television entertainment news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United ^[27]

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)

Solo albums

• Karen Carpenter (1996)

References

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
• Karen Carpenter at Find A Grave