Posted in: Musicouching by Louie Jerome on April 22, 2009 | 13 Comments
Karen Carpenter had a voice that could have rivaled Streisand’s if she had lived long enough to develop her wonderful talent.
Karen Carpenter was born in 1950 at New Haven, Conniticut and died in 1983. Many experts claimed that her voice and the way she could convey emotion in her singing was on a par with the power of Barbara Streisand’s talent. Unfortunately Karen died before she had the chance to blossom to her full potential, or she may well have outshone the fabulous Streisand.
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In1970 when Karen and her brother Richard first hit the charts they were something very different. Their musical style was a complete change from the type of anti-establishment rock music that had filled the post-sixties void.
Their first release was ‘Close To You’ and it was followed by a string of equally ‘sweet’ songs. However, this type of song didn’t keep the interest of the general public for very long and by the end of the seventies their success had largely dwindled away.
Image via Wikipedia
Karen Carpenter was the victim of anorexia nervosa which was not widely recognized at that time. There was no real understanding of what we now call the ‘slimmer’s disease’. She suffered from severe depression and low self esteem.
She married Tom Burris in 1980 but the marriage never really worked, partly because of her devotion to Richard and their singing career, and Karen’s poor self image, and the couple were divorced two years later.
Her battle with anorexia nervosa became so difficult that her weight dropped to 100lbs and she suffered a major heart attack, brought on by the physical stress of the condition in 1983. The post mortem revealed that she had died from overdosing on ipecac which she used to make herself vomit.
After Karen’s death her brother made two more Carpenters’ Albums using old recordings of Karen, but neither was a real success.
Glynis Smy April 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 am
Fantastic tribute piece to an amazing singer, I still listen to their music today.
h20ho April 22nd, 2009 at 1:50 am
I still listen to their music as well. Great Article!
Christine Ramsay April 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 am
A very good and well written piece. The Carpenters were a great favourite of mine and karen had such a beautiful voice.
Christine
George W Whitehead April 22nd, 2009 at 2:55 am
Another great article, Louie. Although I was never a fan of the Carpenters, I will acknowledge that Karen had a beautiful and unique voice, perhaps not as strong as Barbra’s, who incidently, I’m also not a fan of (but don’t tell my wife, she’s her greatest fan), but they both have their own unmistakable styles.
Kate Smedley April 22nd, 2009 at 3:39 am
Thank you so much for this article Louie, I absolutely adored Karen Carpenter while I was growing up and still love the music of the Carpenters. She had a stunning purity to her voice. Excellent stuff and great choice of videos.
Betty Carew April 22nd, 2009 at 4:07 am
Excellent articles Louie about a very great singer. Hubby and I use to love the Carpenters.
Anne Lyken Garner April 22nd, 2009 at 4:23 am
It’s good to see an article about the Carpenters. I have always loved Karen’s voice – still do.
Daisy Peasblossom April 22nd, 2009 at 6:36 am
I was not a big fan, but music by the carpenters is a big part of my early college memories. good article.
CA Johnson April 22nd, 2009 at 10:15 am
Great job on your article, louie. I didn’t realize she died so young. I did hear of the song Close To You, but I’m not too familiar with anything else that the Carpenters sang. Thanks for the information about her.
nutuba April 22nd, 2009 at 11:18 am
What a wonderful tribute to this great singer! Nicely done. Indeed, she had a wonderful voice.
apollo393867 April 22nd, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I acknowledge that Karen had a beautiful voice but it was a crying shame that the Carpenters were in a pop genre when other female voices like Carole King, Janis Joplin and Jonie Mitchell were stretching the expectations and the pushing the envelope. I believe she was certainly as talented as some of these and the tragedy is that her back catalogue is so bereft of music with a little more depth.
Mystical Whitewolf April 27th, 2009 at 7:12 am
A really good article with a great tribute to a wonderful singer. Well done. Perfect video’s.
MMV Abad April 29th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I have always admired Karen Carpenters. Nice article. Tnx, Glynis