I’d always been curious about the life of Karen Carpenter. That she left too soon and made such an impact in music makes me wonder what would have materialized had she hung in there with us longer.

Karen was born in Massachusetts and moved across the country to Cali. In high school, she studied the drums. She was also very athletic and played baseball, often picked to play on teams before her brother. 

In 1969, The Carpenters signed on with A&M Records. With the band, Karen started as a drummer and this is where she was most comfortable. Superstar was written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell. It was sung by several artists before The Carpenters put their stamp on it and sealed an instant hit on Billboard.

Originally, Karen sang as a co-lead from behind the drums but she was only 5’4″ and people wanted to see the person behind the voice more, so behind the mic she went. This was challenging for her but she did what was best for the group. Of all the people on stage, it’s said that she was the magnet for the audience. Karen, also a skilled bass player, described herself as a drummer who sang.

Other iconic hits for The Carpenters were We’ve Only Just Begun, (They Long to Be) Close to You and Ticket to Ride, among other hits.

From the Musical Sketchbook celebrates old school music and the voices behind the sound. Today honors Karen Carpenter. Rest in Love.