BIOGRAPHY

Karen Carpenter

Karen Carpenter, born Karen Anne Carpenter on March 2, 1950 in New Haven, CT, was an American singer and drummer. Karen and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo, The Carpenters.

The Carpenters' 1970 album, Close to You, featured two hit singles,  "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun," which peaked at No.1 and No.2, on the US charts.

In 1975, Playboy's annual readers poll voted Karen Carpenter — Best Rock Drummer of the Year.

Karen died, February 4, 1983, from heart failure brought on by chemical imbalances associated with anorexia nervosa.