THE CARPENTERS

   Richard and Karen Carpenter, a brother-and-sister team, made and sold millions of hit records in the early seventies.  They were the #1 American hitmakers of the 70's according to Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles. 

  They recorded as the Carpenters for just 13 years, but made a deep and lasting impact.   Their recordings are now classics and their sound timeless.  Since the untimely death of Karen at age 32 in 1983 she has become considered one of the most gifted pop vocalists of all time.  Richard was the chief architect of their sound and arranged and orchestrated almost all of their recordings.

hit singles

#1 Close To You, 1970  

#2 We've Only Just Begun, 1970   

#3 For All We Know, 1971 (Oscar for song of the year)  

#2 Rainy Days and Mondays, 1971   

#2 Superstar, 1971  

#12 It's Going to Take Some Time, 1972  

#2 Hurting Each Other, 1972   

#7 Goodbye to Love, 1972  

#3 Sing, 1973  

#2 Yesterday Once More, 1973   

#1 Top of the World, 1973   

#11 Won't Last A Day Without You, 1974

#1 Please Mr. Postman, 1975

#4 Only Yesterday, 1975

     Richard Carpenter was born October 15, 1946.  He is married and has 4 children. 

  Karen Carpenter was born March 2, 1950 and died (February 4, 1983) from heart failure (at her parent's home in Los Angeles, CA) as a result of a long battle with anorexia nervosa.   She was 32 years old.