The Carpenters (official name "Carpenters") were a popular American musical duo consisting of siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter. They were active from 1969 to 1983 and were known for their soft rock and pop sound, as well as Karen's distinctive vocal style. The duo achieved great success, selling over 100 million records worldwide and winning three Grammy Awards.

Karen Carpenter was born in 1950 in New Haven, Connecticut, while Richard Carpenter was born in 1946 in New Haven. They grew up in Downey, California, where they both developed an early interest in music. Karen was a talented drummer and singer, while Richard played piano and sang backing vocals.

The duo began performing together in the mid-1960s, and in 1969 they signed with A&M Records. Their debut album, "Offering," was released the same year but failed to make an impact. However, their second album, "Close to You," was a huge success, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and spawning the hit singles "Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun."

The Carpenters continued to release successful albums throughout the 1970s, including "Carpenters," "A Song for You," and "Now & Then." They also had a string of hit singles, such as "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "Yesterday Once More," and "Top of the World."

Despite their success, Karen Carpenter struggled with anorexia nervosa, a condition that was not widely understood at the time. She died from heart failure caused by complications from the illness in 1983, at the age of 32.

Today, the Carpenters' music continues to be popular, and they are considered one of the most successful and influential musical acts of the 1970s.

• Karen Carpenter - vocals, drums
• Richard Carpenter - vocals, keyboards

• "Offering" (re-released as 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)

• Explore Carpenters music on Amazon.