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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.
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.
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