The Carpenters were a brother and sister act from Southern California. Richard the eldest, was an excellent pianist, but any session player could substitute. Karen sang as a way to compete with Richard.
When they auditioned and offered a contract, Richard thought it was about him and was quickly informed that it was Karen they were offering the contract to.
Or something like that.
Seldom is a low key vocal like Karen Carpenter, as soulful. She is missed.
I saw a special on them, must have been a few months back. I thought that they were "all Karen" but I learned that Richard arranged most of their music and he was very talented in his own right....I had no idea.
So sad that she saw herself so much different than others saw her. The day she died, if I am not mistaken, Richard saw her for the first time in awhile and he was shocked at how little she weighed. Really too bad...she had such a beautiful voice and she delivered a song like no one else.