Although the album was not an immediate success, their cover of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song “(They Long to Be) Close to You” became a smash hit in 1970, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Carpenters signed with A&M Records in 1969 and released their first album, “Offering,” later that year. The siblings formed the Richard Carpenter Trio in 1965, eventually becoming the duo known simply as The Carpenters. Karen initially focused on playing the drums, but her captivating contralto voice would later propel her to stardom. Karen Carpenter and her brother Richard grew up in a music-loving household, with both parents encouraging their children’s musical talents. Despite her untimely passing, Karen Carpenter’s musical legacy continues to influence and inspiring artists today. Her tragic death at 32 due to complications from anorexia nervosa brought attention to the dangers of eating disorders and sparked discussions about mental health in the entertainment industry. With her angelic voice and the duo’s signature melodic pop sound, Karen Carpenter left an indelible mark on the world of music in the 1970s. While a group of doctors and therapists, who specialized in eating disorders, urged the FDA to ban the over-the-counter sale of the vomit-inducing drug ipecac.Karen Carpenter, born on March 2, 1950, in New Haven, Connecticut, was an extraordinarily gifted singer and drummer who, along with her brother Richard, formed the iconic duo known as The Carpenters. From a generation of women who saw Twiggy as an icon of the ideal body shape, Carpenter’s death proved it was, in fact, possible to be too thin.Īfter her death, a number of public figures shared their own struggles with anorexia and bulimia, most notably Princess Diana. An autopsy ruled out drugs or a medication overdose, describing her death as “emetine cardiotoxicity due to or as a consequence of anorexia nervosa.”Ī coroner blamed a repeated use of ipecac syrup, an over-the-counter emetic used to induce vomiting.Ĭarpenter’s death raised awareness of eating disorders in a way that had seldom been discussed before. Paramedics said her heart was beating once every 10 seconds before she died at Downey Community Hospital a few hours later at 9:15 am. Her sudden heart failure was brought on by the physiological stresses placed on her system by the disease whose name soon entered the public consciousness: anorexia nervosa. While the reality of her condition had stayed relatively under the radar, on February 4, 1983, Carpenter suffered from a deadly heart attack at her parent’s home in Downey, California. The next seven years were a repeating cycle of dramatic weight loss, collapse, and then hospitalization. Those around her thought some time spent in a hospital would turn things around for the “Close to You” singer. Reportedly, Carpenter’s insecurities only grew as she solidified into one of the biggest pop stars of her era.īy mid-1975, The Carpenters were forced to cancel tours of Japan and Europe after Karen collapsed on stage during a show in Las Vegas. She denied any claims of an eating disorder and instead told the media she was just “pooped.” While using these methods, fans started to write to the outfit, asking if the singer was sick. Despite losing weight, Carpenter saw photos of herself while performing that she believed made her look “heavy.”Ī new diet and a failed trainer later, Carpenter opted to continue her weight loss on her own, relying on counting calories and skipping meals. Under the doctor’s advice, she began the Stillman diet, sticking to only lean foods and drinking eight glasses of water a day. Carpenter reportedly started dieting while still in high school.
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