So Karen
and Richard formed a new group in 1967 which consisted of 4 additional
members, who were all university friends. They called themselves Spectrum.
However, Spectrum met little success and were soon dissolved. Still
fighting to be discovered, Karen and Richard now formed a duo - The
CARPENTERS. Karen was at this time considering singing to be as important
as her drums and Richard was therefore making a new sound for them,
a soft, upbeat harmony with multi-track recording, the special choir
in the back only consisting of Karen and Richard. The new sound was
created in the garage of their musician friend Joe Osborn. At last
came the break The Carpenters had been waiting for. It was the end
of frustrating years trying to be discovered and a new beginning of
wonderful music. The break came when Herb Alpert, the leader and trumpet
player of the Tijuana Brass and the co-founder of A&M Records, heard
the Carpenters and their new sound.
Herb
Alpert & the CARPENTERS
 |
He was so overwhelmed with Richard's arrangement and Karen's unique
and clear voice that they were signed to A&M Records on April 22,
1969. Their musical career had finally begun. They had their first
gold record in 1970 with "Close to you" which climbed to number one
on all national charts. |
| This
was just the beginning of a string of 10 gold records and many hit
songs, here among "We've only just begun", "Rainy days and Mondays",
"Goodbye to love" and "Top of the world". |
| The
cynics said that they were unfashionable, "squeaky-clean" and "Mom's
apple pie". However, this judgment was a mistake by the cynics, as
The Carpenters were not meant to be judged alongside hard rock 'n'
roll. Some cynics also said that their music sounded simple and not
complex. The best music always does. |
| The
Carpenters made 12 albums and won several awards, both in the US as
well as abroad. Sadly the Carpenters' career was to have a tragic
ending on February 4, 1983, when Karen was found unconscious by her
mother in her parents' home in Downey. That morning Karen died of
heart failure caused by the long battle with the disease Anorexia
Nervosa. Karen Anne Carpenter is greatly missed, but fortunately we
are still able to hear The Carpenters' timeless music and the voice
of her heart." |
| "A
unique sound is not easy to make with all the wonderful music and
artists in the world. However, The Carpenters made just that, a unique
and beautiful sound. The famous sister, brother duo consisted of Richard
and Karen born in New Haven, Connecticut. |
| Richard,
who had always been very interested in music, listening to his father's
records, started playing piano at the age of twelve. |
As
a teenager Karen was very interested in sports, especially baseball
and her musical interest didn't appear until she was in high school,
where she developed an interest in the drums.
In 1965 Richard and Karen therefore formed an instrumental trio with
one of Richard's friends, Wes Jacobs, who played the bass. The trio
won first prize in 1966 in the Hollywood Bowl Battle Of The Bands.
Unfortunately, Wes Jacobs left the trio to join an orchestra. |
The
CARPENTER Trio
 |
|
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