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online with

Carpenters

Carpenters Music Store: CLICK TO ENTER

A Rick Henry Website / Internet debut 12/29/11

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About Carpenters

their story

Carpenters were the biggest selling American group of the 1970's having sold more 100 million units. During their 14 year career they recorded ten studio albums.

Born in New Haven Connecticut, brother and sister Richard Carpenter (1946) and Karen Carpenter (1950) began their career in music after the family moved to Downey, California in 1963.

In the fall of 1964, Richard enrolled at Long Beach State, now known as California State University, Long Beach, where he met future songwriting partner John Bettis, with whom he would write classics like "Top of the World", "Goodbye to Love", and "Only Yesterday"; Wesley Jacobs, a friend who played the bass and tuba for the Richard Carpenter Trio; and Frank Pooler, with whom Richard would collaborate to create the Christmas standard "Merry Christmas Darling" in 1966. At the same time Karen attended Downey High School and joined the marching band. First she was assigned the glockenspiel but quickly convinced the band teacher to let her play the drums. She borrowed band member, Frankie Chavez's drums and he taught her some of the primary rudiments of the instrument from there Karen mastered the drums which became her instrument of choice.

In late 1965 Karen and Richard formed The Richard Carpenter Trio with Wes Jacobs, a jazz trio who's sound was closely aligned to the likes of Dave Brubeck and Stan Kenton.

The Richard Carpenter Trio signed up for the annual Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands in mid-1966, where they played an instrumental version of "The Girl from Ipanema" and their own "Iced Tea". The trio won the Battle of the Bands on June 24, 1966, and they were signed up by RCA Records. They recorded songs such as The Beatles' "Every Little Thing" and Frank Sinatra's "Strangers in the Night" for RCA. However, these recordings were never released (although some tracks were released decades later as part of a boxed set of Carpenters material.)

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About Carpenters

Their Story page 2

Later in 1966, Karen tagged along at a late-night session in the garage studio of Los Angeles bassist Joe Osborn, and joined future Carpenters collaborator and lyricist John Bettis at a demo session where Richard was to accompany an auditioning trumpet player. Asked to sing, Karen performed for Osborn, who was so bowled over with her voice that he said `Never mind the trumpet player; this chubby little girl can sing.'

Osborn then signed Karen by herself as a singer to his fledgling label, Magic Lamp Records, and the label put out a single featuring two of Richard's compositions, "Looking for Love" and "I'll Be Yours." The single was not a hit however, and the label soon became defunct. However, Osborn let Karen and Richard continue to use his studio to record demo tapes until 1969, when they finally got an offer from A&M Records.

In 1967, Richard and Karen teamed up with four other student musicians from Long Beach State to form a band called "Spectrum". The group often performed at the Whisky a Go Go. Spectrum member John Bettis worked with the Carpenters until Karen's death in 1983, composing many songs with Richard.

In 1968, Spectrum disbanded, and the Richard Carpenter Trio's Wes Jacobs left for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Jacobs, who played both the bass and the tuba, would eventually become the symphony's Principal Tubist in 1970. Richard and Karen received an offer to be on the television program Your All American College Show in mid-1968. Their June 22, 1968 performance was Richard's and Karen's first television appearance.

Richard and Karen sent their demo tapes to many record labels until A&M Records' co-owner and trumpeter/vocalist Herb Alpert (who happened to be a friend of a friend of their mother's) became attracted to their distinct sound. Alpert was Richard's and Karen's lucky break, and his decision would change their lives.

Sadly after 14 years of one of pop music's most spectacular careers Karen Carpenter passed away on February 4, 1983 of complications brought on from many years of struggling with anorexia nervosa. She left behind a legacy which has continued growing to this very day. Carpenters still manage to sell 2 - 3 million untis every year. Every Christmas season their album "Christmas Portrait" sells extremely well.