The Carpenters
People witnessed the huge success of The Carpenters in the early 70’s. Richard and Karen become known as the siblings who shaped the music industry, particularly the sub-genre known as “Sunshine Pop.” But little did the world know that behind the fame and wealth, not everything was as it seemed. Read on to find out the story of the Carpenters.
It comes as a surprise to quite a lot of people to find out The Carpenters were actually brother and sister. That’s right; Richard and Karen Carpenter were siblings. They both seemed to have a special ear for music, and a unique way of creating it too. This gift came to the floor when they were both very young – great things were in store for the two of them. But not everything would be as wonderful and happy as it seemed to the outside, watching world.
Although they started out small – Richard on the piano and Karen on the drums – they soon shot out of their own imagined boundaries. There were small wins in the beginning, like that of winning a local high school “battle of the bands” competition. But those small wins only served as stepping stones in the bigger picture of their success story.
It must be very difficult to go into any business together with a family member. The difficulty to separate personal life from business life must eventually become a burden. Some behavior that is acceptable at home, most certainly does not fly in the workplace. Unfortunately, this was the case for The Carpenters. And even more specifically for young Karen, who unfortunately would lose her own life because of the accumulating pressure in her personal and professional life.
The world mourned when Karen Carpenter left it. All the while the world was still oblivious to the real reason for her death. Was it because of health issues? Was it perhaps depression that got the better of this musical superstar? Some may even attribute it to the life she lived under her brother’s and mother’s scrutiny. Years have passed since The Carpenters were the hottest thing under the sun, but it is now that we have started to collect the answer to most of our questions. This story, along with these pictures, paints a very different story.
As Kids
The siblings were born to Agnes Reuwer and Harold Bertram Carpenter. When they were young, Richard spent his time indoors listening to classical music and playing the piano, while Karen enjoyed playing outdoor sports with her peers. Their parents, however, saw that both of their children had a great interest in music despite their differences.
As Kids