- Born
- 2 March 1950, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- First work
- 1966: Looking for Love
- Peak
- 1970 to 1975 (estimated)
- Last work
- 1981: Made in America
- Died
- 4 February 1983, Downey, United States; aged 32; illness
Karen Carpenter
Music: singer, drummer, United States
Karen Carpenter was an American vocalist and drummer whose exceptionally pure contralto defined the soft-rock sound of the 1970s. Alongside her brother Richard in the duo The Carpenters, she achieved monumental worldwide success, scoring numerous chart-topping singles and albums characterised by rich vocal harmonies and meticulous arrangements. Though initially viewing herself as a drummer who sang, her distinctive voice became one of the most revered in popular music. Her career flourished through the 1970s until health struggles related to anorexia nervosa interrupted her work. She passed away in Downey, California, in 1983 at the age of thirty-two, leaving an enduring musical legacy.
Who else was born on 2 March or who died on 4 February.
Compare with Jerry Garcia Compare with someone else
Signature works
- (They Long to Be) Close to You song1970
- We've Only Just Begun song1970
- Rainy Days and Mondays song1971
- Superstar song1971
- Goodbye to Love song1972
- Yesterday Once More song1973
Honours
- Grammy Award for Best New Artist, 1971
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1983
Groups: The Carpenters.