Full name – Karen Carpenter
Gender – Female
Age – 73
Height – 162cm or 5’3”
Zodiac Sign – Pisces
Category/Profession – Actor, Drummer, Musician, Singer
Net Worth – $6 Million
Who was Karen Carpenter?
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Karen Carpenter moved with her family to Downey, California, in 1963. Karen’s older brother, Richard Carpenter, decided to put together an instrumental trio with him on the piano, Karen on the drums and their friend Wes Jacobs on the bass and tuba.
In a battle of the bands at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966, the group won first place and landed a contract with RCA Records. However, RCA did not see a future in jazz tuba, and the contract was short-lived.
Karen Carpenter’s Last Days
On Jan. 27 1983, Karen’s housekeeper Florine Elie found her lying on the floor of the wardrobe in her Century City apartment. Karen was groggy and barely awake, so Elie helped her into bed and got on with her cleaning. By the time she finished, Karen was sitting up, saying she felt better. Elie was troubled, though, and rang to check on her the next morning.
On Feb. 1, Karen dined with Richard at Scandia on Sunset Boulevard and they were joined by their stage producer, Joe Layton, to discuss plans for touring. On Feb. 2, Karen drove to [her attorney Werner] Wolfen’s office to look again at her divorce papers and they made an appointment to sign the documents on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. In these moments, Karen was industrious and elated, keen to rebuild her life. She rang Itchie, who at that point was nine months pregnant with her and Phil Ramone’s first child. Karen talked about her plans to go to New York and be there for the birth.
On Feb. 3 1983, she drove from Century City to Downey, where she met her mother. Karen wanted to buy a new washer-drier for her condominium and, being a good Downey girl, she decided to get it over the counter at Gemco hypermarket. When she couldn’t find what she wanted that afternoon, she decided to sleep over at her parents’ house and continue the search in the morning. She, Harold, and Agnes then went out to Big Boy to eat, and Karen had a shrimp salad. She was still hungry when they left the restaurant, so she stopped for a taco on the way home.
Karen Carpenter Death
On the morning of Feb. 4 1983, Karen awoke, padded down to the kitchen, turned on the coffee pot and went back upstairs. At 8:45 a.m. Agnes heard the wardrobe doors slide open in the room above. “Karen’s up,” she said to Harold, before going down to the kitchen. When the coffee was ready she called the bedroom phone, but Karen didn’t answer. Agnes went to the foot of the stairs and called again but there was no response, so she went up to the bedroom. She found Karen lying unclothed and motionless on the wardrobe floor. Clutching her close, she screamed to Harold to call for help.
Karen was admitted to Downey Community Hospital at 9:23 a.m., having gone into full cardiac arrest. An assistant to the anesthetist was a family friend who recognized Karen and was distraught. When she told the registered nurse, Pat Tomlin, who their patient was, she realized that the hospital would need to be prepared for a press avalanche and sent one of the staff to inform the hospital manager.
Dr. Irv Edwards and his ER team spent twenty-eight minutes trying to revive Karen, but at 9:51 she was pronounced dead. Agnes and Harold were distraught. “Can’t you bring her back?” they wailed, but Edwards gently explained there was nothing more they could do. Richard, meanwhile, sat there feeling numb and hopeless, trying to process the fact that his sister, his lifelong musical partner, was dead at 32 years old.
Karen Carpenter Songs
(Single Tracks)
“Looking for Love””Ticket to Ride””(They Long to Be) Close to You””We’ve Only Just Begun””Merry Christmas, Darling””For All We Know””Rainy Days and Mondays””Superstar””Bless the Beasts and Children””Hurting Each Other””It’s Going to Take Some Time””Goodbye to Love””Sing””Yesterday Once More””Top of the World””Jambalaya (On the Bayou)””I Won’t Last a Day Without You””Please Mr. Postman””Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town””Only Yesterday””Solitaire””There’s a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)”
“I Need to Be in Love””Goofus””All You Get from Love Is a Love Song””Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft””The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)””Sweet, Sweet Smile””I Believe You””Touch Me When We’re Dancing””(Want You) Back in My Life Again””Those Good Old Dreams””Beechwood 4-5789″”Make Believe It’s Your First Time””Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore””Little Altar Boy””Honolulu City Lights””Something in Your Eyes””If I Had You””Ave Maria””The Rainbow Connection”
(Studio Albums)
Offering (Ticket to Ride) (1969) Close to You (1970) Carpenters (1971) A Song for You (1972) Now & Then (1973) Horizon (1975) A Kind of Hush (1976) Passage (1977) Christmas Portrait (1978) Made in America (1981) Voice of the Heart (1983) An Old-Fashioned Christmas (1984) Lovelines (1989) As Time Goes By (2001)
Karen Carpenter Net Worth
Karen Carpenter was an American singer and drummer who had a net worth of $6 million at the time of her death in 1983. That’s equal to around $14 million today after adjusting for inflation. Technically she only had around $2,000 in cash in her bank account at the time of her death. The rest of her fortune was invested in illiquid assets which eventually caused her estate to incur huge tax burdens. More than 60% of her net worth was eaten away by final expenses and taxes.
Karen Carpenter was best known as one half of the music duo the Carpenters alongside her brother Richard Carpenter. She achieved major success throughout the 70s with such hit singles as “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” and “Top of the World.”
What is Karen Carpenter’s Zodiac Sign?
Karen Carpenter’s Zodiac sign is Pisces. In the world of astrology, being born under the sign of Pisces means that Karen Carpenter possessed a deep emotional intelligence and an intuitive nature.
This water sign is known for its creativity, sensitivity, and ability to connect with others on an empathetic level. As a singer, drummer, actor, and musician, these qualities would have greatly influenced Karen Carpenter’s artistic expression.
Her performances were not just about hitting the right notes or playing beats; they were infused with her emotions and touched the hearts of millions. Pisces individuals are also known for their dreamy and imaginative nature.
This likely played a role in Karen Carpenter’s songwriting abilities and her ability to transport listeners into another world through her music. Overall, being a Pisces enhanced Karen Carpenter’s musical talent by allowing her to tap into her emotions deeply and create art that resonated with people on a profound level.
Karen Carpenter’s Charity Works
Music Education – Had Support Music education in schools for children.
Eating Disorder Awareness – Her struggles with anorexia nervosa got attention to Eating Disorder Awareness.
Concerts For Charity – Participated into beneficial concerts to raise funds for various causes.
