The core of the Carpenters were sister and brother Karen and Richard Carpenter, both born in New Haven, Connecticut; Richard in 1946 and Karen in 1950.

Richard started playing the piano at the age of nine. Karen would not realize her musical ability until the family moved to Downey, California in 1963 and she took up drums while she was in high school. By then Richard had formed The Richard Carpenter Trio with Frank Pooler and Wes Jacobs. The trio signed with RCA Records in 1966, but failed to produce any hits.

In 1966, Karen accompanied her brother Richard, who was auditioning for a trumpeter at a studio owned by bassist Joe Osborn. Osborn asked Karen to sing and he was so impressed that he signed her to his Magic Lamp Records label. The tag folded before she Karen took a hit.

A year later, Karen and Richard joined a band called Spectrum. They performed at the famous Whiskey A Go-Go, but disbanded in 1968.

After sending out many demo tapes, A&M Records co-owner and family friend Herb Alpert (of Tijuana Brass fame) signed the duo under the name “Carpenters” in 1969. Their first album, “Offering,” produced a minor hit with a slow version of The Beatles’ “Ticket To Ride.” It was their second album, “Close To You”, that put Karen and Richard “on the map”.

Charting, the Carpenters had twenty Top 40 hits on the Billboard weekly charts, three of which went to number one. Here’s a look at Carpenters’ twenty biggest hits, according to Billboard’s Weekly Top 40 charts.

1. (They Long To Be) Close To You – 1970 – Originally recorded by Richard Chamberlain in 1963, the Carpenters’ first hit went to number one for four weeks.

2. Top Of The World – 1973 – When Lynn Anderson hit number 3 on the country charts, this version was released from the album “A Song For You”.

3. Please Mr. Postman – 1975 – A number one single for The Marvellettes in 1961, the Carpenters also went to number one.

4. We’ve Only Just Begun – 1970 – Richard heard this song on a TV commercial for Crocker Bank in California and decided it would be a good song to record. It turned out to be his signature song.

5. Superstar – 1971 – Written by Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett, Richard heard Bette Midler perform the song on “The Tonight Show” and couldn’t wait to arrange and record it.

6. Rainy Days And Mondays – 1971 – Written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams, this song appeared on their album “Carpenters.”

7. Hurting Each Other – 1972 – Originally recorded by Jimmy Clanton, Chad Allen and The Expressions (Guess Who) and the Walker Brothers, before it was taken over by the Carpenters.

8. Yesterday Once More – 1973 – Written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis for the “Now And Then” album.

9. As far as we know – 1971 – From the film “Lovers and other strangers.”

10. Sing – 1973 – Carpenters’ version of this song helped popularize a song written for “Sesame Street.”

11. Just Yesterday – 1975 – Their last Top 10 hit came from the album “Horizon.”

12. Goodbye To Love – 1972 – Renowned electric guitarist Tony Peluso contributes funky guitar work on this song.

13. I Won’t Last A Day Without You – Co-written by Paul Williams, also recorded by Maureen McGovern.

14. It’s Going To Take Some Time – 1972 – Written and recorded by Carole King in 1971.

15. There’s A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World) – 1976 – A #4 hit for Herman’s Hermits in 1967, the Carpenters pushed it to #12.

16. Touch Me When We’re Dancing – 1981 – Officially the Carpenters’ last Top 20 single, after a three-year chart hiatus.

17. Solitaire – 1975 – Written and recorded by Neil Sedaka in 1972.

18. I Need To Be In Love – 1976 – Richard reported that this was Karen’s favorite song.

19. Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day) – 1977 – Originally recorded by Klaatu in 1976, Carpenters’ version features a 160-member musical crew.

20. All You Get From Love Is A Love Song – 1977 – From the album “Passage”, Tom Scott, the saxophonist on Carole King’s hit “Jazzman”, can be heard here.

Although Karen and Richard projected a squeaky-clean image, they both had their share of personal issues. Richard had to take a break in 1979 to be treated for his addiction to Quaaludes. Karen, who had been fighting her weight for years, had suffered from anorexia nervosa since 1975 and refused to seek treatment.

Karen’s whirlwind romance and marriage to real estate developer, Thomas Burris, in 1980, only lasted a year, before the couple went their separate ways. Karen finally sought treatment for her anorexia, in 1981, where it was discovered that she had been taking ten times her daily dose of thyroid medication.

In 1983, Karen returned to her mother’s home in Downey after an argument with Richard about her deteriorating condition. Two days later, she Karen herself went into cardiac arrest and she was pronounced dead on February 4, 1983 at the age of 32.

During their reign, the Carpenters were the number one selling music artists of the 1970s. They won three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 1970. They also hosted several television specials and had their own variety series, “Make Your Own Kind Of Music” in 1971.

Several documentaries have been made about the carpenters. “The Karen Carpenter Story,” a 1988 TV movie, was based on her life.

Richard continues to appear in concerts and raise funds for the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts located at California State University.