Karen Carpenter
1950 - 1983Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer who was part of the duo the Carpenters alongside her older brother Richard. She was praised for her contralto vocals, and her drumming abilities were viewed positively by other musicians and critics. Her struggles with eating disorders would later raise awareness of anorexia and body dysmorphia.
Carpenter was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and moved to Downey, California, in 1963 with her family. She began to study the drums in high school and joined the Long Beach State choir after graduating. After several years of touring and recording, the Carpenters were signed to A&M Records in 1969, achieving commercial and critical success throughout the 1970s. Initially, Carpenter was the band's full-time drummer, but gradually took the role of frontwoman as drumming was reduced to a handful of live showcases or tracks on albums. While the Carpenters were on hiatus in the late 1970s, she recorded a solo album, which was released years after her death.
Carpenter had the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, which was little-known at the time, and was briefly married in the early 1980s. She died at age 32 from heart failure caused by complications related to her illness. Her death led to increased visibility and awareness of eating disorders. Her work continues to attract praise, including being listed among Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers of all time.
Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights
Jeff Margolis
Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly
In this variety special, Olivia shares the evening with Andy Gibb, Elton John, Ted Knight, Gene Kelly and Toni Tennille. The special included songs from Grease and the Totally Hot album as well as some other artists' covers : the Eagles, Bob Seger, Elton John and Buddy Holly. Olivia also performed a parody of the jazz/blues classic Makin' Whoopee with Gene Kelly, changing the lyrics to Makin' Movies and dealing with Olivia's dream of producing a musical. The show was aired internationally and did very well in the ratings, as did her two previous US television specials on the same network. It is to be noted that Tina Turner's appearance on Olivia's special helped her sign a contract with then Olivia's manager Roger Davies, who ultimately helped her to go back into the spotlight.
Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights
Carpenters: DVD Gold
Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter
The VHS/Beta Yesterday Once More was released in 1985, shortly after Karen Carpenter's death in 1983. The tape was repackaged as a DVD in 2002 under the name Gold: Greatest Hits, and the DVD contains all the videos from Yesterday Once More.
Carpenters: DVD Gold
Close to You: The Story of the Carpenters
Andy Baybutt
Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter
Documentary detailing the career of The Carpenters from their formative years through to specially shot footage of Richard Carpenter in the recording studio today. The film includes interviews with Richard Carpenter, Burt Bacharach, Herb Alpert, Petula Clark, Damon Gough, Kim Gordon and Dionne Warwick Rare archive includes the wedding footage of Karen walking down the isle. —Anonymous
Close to You: The Story of the Carpenters
The Perry Como Christmas Show
Nick Vanoff
Perry Como, Karen Carpenter
The first of Perry Como's Christmas specials includes appearances by Rich Little and figure skater Peggy Fleming as well as performances by the Carpenters and by Perry Como himself. Also featured a reenactment of the Birth of Jesus Christ.
The Perry Como Christmas Show
My Music: A Classic Christmas
Gavin MacLeod, Marion Ross
Gavin MacLeod and Marion Ross host a Christmas celebration that features classic performances of popular holiday standards and traditional carols performed, throughout decades past, by an array of artists, including Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Brenda Lee, Eddy Arnold, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Mitch Miller and the Gang, Gene Autry, Jimmy Boyd, the Supremes, Rosemary Clooney, the Lennon Sisters, Burl Ives, Mahalia Jackson, Mitzi Gaynor, Julie Andrews, the Beach Boys, the Carpenters, Jose Feliciano, the Drifters, Ronnie Spector, the Harry Simeone Chorale, and David Bowie.
My Music: A Classic Christmas
Only Yesterday - The Carpenters Story
Samantha Peters
Richard Carpenter, Karen Carpenter
Documentary about brother and sister duo The Carpenters, one of the biggest-selling pop acts of the 1970s, but one with a destructive and complex secret that ended in tragedy.
Only Yesterday: The Carpenters Story
The Carpenters Concert: Live at the New London Theatre
Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter
A 1976 performance of the Carpenters at the new London Theatre. Songs performed include 'Superstar', 'We've Only Just Begun', 'Goodbye to Love' and 'Rainy Days and Mondays. ' Songs performed include 'Superstar', 'We've Only Just Begun', 'Goodbye to Love' and 'Rainy Days and Mondays.
The Carpenters Concert: Live at the New London Theatre
The Carpenters...Space Encounters
Bob Henry
Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter
Take a magical, musical trip through time and space with the Carpenters and their guests... including a "Star Wars/Close Encounters" fantasy that will dazzle and delight you.
The Carpenters... Space Encounters
Paul Williams Still Alive
Stephen Kessler
Paul Williams, Stephen Kessler
Filmmaker and longtime fan Stephen Kessler's portrait of the award-winning 1970s singer-songwriter-actor, who disappeared for much of the 1980s and '90s, but still performs today.
Paul Williams Still Alive
The Carpenters: Christmas Memories
Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter
The Christmas music of the Carpenters is celebrated in this special, which features the influential duo's renditions of such songs as "The Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas."
Carpenters: Christmas Memories
Carpenters: Live at Budokan
Nozomi Sunuma, Takayoshi Sato
Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter
In 1974, The Carpenters, American brother and sister duo, traveled to Japan for a series of concerts which were part of their World Tour. It shows footage of their airplane arrival, a press conference with Karen and Richard, backstage preparations, short interviews with fans, and finally, their sold out concert.
Carpenters: Live at Budokan
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 years of Laughter Volume 2
Bob Hope, Lucille Ball
This Bob Hope Special called “Highlights of a Quarter Century” begins his 26th year with NBC in 1975 (he began with NBC radio in 1937) celebrating 25 years of Bob Hope Specials and the many celebrities that appeared on them The clips begin with his very first special, for Frigidaire, on April 9, 1950 and putting his way through the years to 1975
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 years of Laughter Volume 2
The Carpenters - Gold: Greatest Hits
Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter
You've heard the Carpenters' greatest hits, but have you seen them? This DVD brings you the first-ever collection of Carpenters videos, featuring their #1 songs (They Long to Be) Close to You; Top of the World , and Please Mr. Postman plus their Top 10 hits We've Only Just Begun; Superstar; Rainy Days and Mondays , and nine more. Great remastered sound and video!
Carpenters Gold (Greatest Hits)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 years of Laughter Volume 1
Bob Hope, Desi Arnez Hines II
This Bob Hope Special called “Highlights of a Quarter Century” begins his 26th year with NBC in 1975 (he began with NBC radio in 1937) celebrating 25 years of Bob Hope Specials and the many celebrities that appeared on them The clips begin with his very first special, for Frigidaire, on April 9, 1950 and putting his way through the years to 1975
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 years of Laughter Volume 1
