KAREN CARPENTER
Karen Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard Carpenter, formed the 1970s duo Carpenters. Although her skills as a drummer earned admiration from drumming luminaries and peers, she is best known for her vocal performances. She had a contralto vocal range. Carpenter suffered from anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that was little known at the time. Carpenter’s death led to increased visibility and awareness of eating disorders. (More from Wikipedia)
Carolyn Lee of Music Emporium hadn’t started singing though until she joined an a capella choir at Long Beach State, where she was seated beside Karen Carpenter; Richard Carpenter was their accompanist on piano. The brother and sister would later become world famous as Carpenters, but not many people know that Karen was also a drummer – in fact, she described herself as a “drummer who sings”. Dora Wahl knew both of the Carpenters also.
(October 2013)
