The Most Popular Act of the ’70s: The Carpenters
Brother and sister duo Karen and Richard Carpenter began their musical journey early on. Richard played piano, while Karen initially started with the glockenspiel before discovering her passion for drums. She was determined to become a professional drummer, practising rudiments and press rolls for hours. However, Karen’s path took a turn when she became the lead vocalist for the Carpenters, a decision that made them internationally famous.
While Karen played drums on the Carpenters’ recordings, it was her distinct voice that truly made the duo a household name. Their biggest hits include (They Long to Be) Close to You, Top of the World, Rainy Days and Mondays, We’ve Only Just Begun, and their cover of Please Mr. Postman, originally a hit for The Supremes.
After a few initial setbacks, the Carpenters were signed by A&M Records, which released Burt Bacharach‘s Close to You. The single immediately catapulted them to worldwide fame.
Over the next five years, the Carpenters toured relentlessly, sometimes performing more than 200 shows in a single year. But beneath the surface, Karen was struggling. As the band’s fame soared, Karen’s battle with depression and the onset of Anorexia Nervosa took hold.
Despite her personal challenges, the Carpenters continued to tour and promote their music. Tragically, Karen collapsed at their parents’ home in Downey. Richard arrived the next morning to find that Karen had suffered cardiac arrest due to complications from her eating disorder, and she passed away at just 32 years old.
Karen’s death brought attention to the dangers of Anorexia, and since then, many other public figures, including Princess Diana, have spoken openly about their struggles with eating disorders.
Carpenters Tunes | Related Pages
(They Long To Be) Close To You | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play (They Long To Be) Close To You by Carpenters using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Csus2 | Bm | Bm7 | Em Esus2 E5 Em7 |
Why do birds suddenly appear, every time, you are near…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: (They Long To Be) Close To You (Carpenters) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
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