The 25th Anniversary of Karen Carpenter: February 4, 2008

[Carpenters Forever]

Hi everyone at the A&M Corner Carpenters Forum,

I am dedicating this post to Karen Carpenter's Anniversary, marking 25 years since, February 4th 1983.

My Dedication to Miss. Karen Carpenter:

Today is February 2, 2008. In two days on Monday, February 4th, will mark 25 years since a woman named Karen Carpenter left this world. Karen left us with precious memorable music, and memories for her family, friends, and of course, her fans. Now we should take a moment, and remember Karen. Maybe it'll be different in each and every way, in how we remember Miss. Karen Carpenter. But for those who knew her, and those who admired her and are of their audience (fans); let Karen's memory shine and never let it fade. For Karen, may have left this world at the age of 32. But her memory still lives on forever.

Karen was a very talented and intelligent woman. She had a voice that is one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. She could play the drums, and sing, and be a fine and accomplished musician. It is with great respect, and remembrance that Karen may be remembered and never forgotten.

She not only was a special person that her family loved, but for her fans, the unforgettable music and timelessness that comes to mind, and that is there - when you hear the Carpenters music. It's magic.

In Remembrance and In Respect,

Veronica Reiner, a Carpenters fan

Carpenters Forever

 

[Dave]

What a sad day it was and still is... Karen, we still miss you...



Dave

 

[aaflyer98]

Karen - You are Loved and missed.

 

[PHIL]

"When I was young I'd listen to the radio, waitin' for my favourite songs, when they played I'd sing along, it made me smile..."

Those songs were Carpenters, and the voice, THAT voice, was Karen's. There will never be another.

Where have 25 years gone? Yet Karen is still in our hearts, and her voice will live on.

 

[Harry]

There's even a mention of this anniversary on our local newsradio station. They do a feature each day called "Rewind" where they list anniversaries and birthdays related to pop culture.

For Karen, they played a snippet of "Goodbye To Love" underneath that part of the announcement.

I've said it before, and I still remember exactly where I was on that afternoon when the news reached us. I heard it on the radio station for whom I work, At that point, we were a soft-rock station that had gradually veered away from playing any Carpenters records. For that announcement, the DJ dug out a few of Carpenters hits to play as a tribute to Karen.

Twenty-five years! I'll be spinning some of my own Carpenters recordings today for sure.

Harry

 

[Gordo]

I was seven at the time and took an article on Karen Carpenter in to school as my "current events" topic. My mom was (and is) a huge fan and was devastated by the news -- particularly since Karen was not that much older than her.

...I think I owe my appreciation for Carpenters to my mother. She became a fan the first time she heard "Close To You," and I grew up listening to the sounds of Carpenters around the house (LPs) and in the car (8-tracks). Now it's fun when my mom comes to visit and I can share my Carpenters collection with her -- for example, the SACD album.

EDIT: I should mention, too, that my mom & I had great fun travelling to Connecticut in 1999 to hear Richard live in concert at the Foxwoods Casino. It was another milestone in our shared fandom!

 

[goodjeans]

With everything that Karen was going through in the Spring of 1975, she had enough thoughtfulness to give me her autograph, take mine! and remember to send me a birthday card several months later. I will never forget her and sit here on a rainy day and a monday with a lump in my throat. The loss is still a profound one and one that will never go away.

 

[Mark-T]

Thank you, Karen, for all you've brought to my life.

Today must be especially hard on Richard. God bless him with peace today.

 

[Grainne]

i first heard about the carpenters when i was about 7 yrs old. i came into the living room one evening to find my family around the tv watching 'the karen carpenter story'. it took awhile for me to 'get' that Karen had died and it was an actress on tv. but something stuck and i couldnt get enough after that.
one of my strongest memories of growing up is sitting outside my big sisters bedroom( she wouldnt let me inside!) and listening to her play the carpenters greatest hits over & over. my favourite at that time was ticket to ride, and i would just sit on the stairs singing along! that christmas i got my first ever tape (!) , the carpenters greatest hits and a walkman to listen to it on
i can honestly say that almost every memory i have from childhood and on into my twenties has been linked to a carpenters song.
and now that im in my late twenties they are still a part of my life.

Today must be a very sad day for Richard and i think of him as i blast out the records and sing along.

Grainne
Dublin,Ireland

 

[no1kandrfan]

Karen's voice was heaven sent and I get the same 'chills' today that I did 38 years ago when I heard her voice for the first time.

 

[Jeff]

Hi Guys,

Karen is surely missed by fans worldwide. What an amazing legacy she left behind for countless generations to enjoy. I often wish the records were still forthcoming and disappointed at the reality. I suppose thankyou to Karen and most assuredly Richard for maintaining the archives so masterfully.
I also say God Bless RC on this day of remembrance.

Jeff

 

[bluebird1111]

I was 14. I remember it like yesterday. My mother said she heard it on the radio. I wouldn't accept her word. I turned on the TV and waited for the announcement. Sure enough, it came. I went into a frenzied state of hysterics, locking myself in my room for the remainder of the day and refusing any contact with the outside world. I played my records and wept uncontrollably for hours.

She was everything to me, and being a pianist I admired Richard, too. I was a member of the fan club, and frequently exchanged letters with Evelyn. She always responded with handwritten letters in purple ink; felt tip. They always began with "Hi!" and ended with "Ev." Those letters are gone now; lost in a situation I won't go into but was out of my control. Growing up in a household with one channel, CBS, I had never seen them on television since their specials were on ABC. I had no idea of the things happening in her life beyond the fan club newsletters. It was a shock; completely out of left field; I had no way to prepare; not even a suspicion of trouble brewing.

I miss you now as much as I did then, my dear sweet friend...

 

[JMAR5]

I can't believe it's been 25 years. I remember that day vividly. I was a member of the Carpenter fan club at the time and was in shock

 

[Dave]

Yow, Idon't really remember much about that fateful day back in 1983, 'cept thaqt was when I first found out about the Carpenters and was really getting into them via my first '45', "We've Only Just Begun" B/W "For All We Know" on the A&M PINK label Memories-series...



Dave

 

[andywithaz]

Wow 25 years! It's such a sad day today. I've been thinking about Karen all day and how her life and musical career would have been if things had turned out differently.

"A Star on Earth, A Star in Heaven"

Remembering Karen Carpenter...

 

[Chris May]

AMAZING! It's hard to believe it's been 25 years! I was five months short of my 7th birthday when Karen died. I remember that time fairly well actually. To think of the legacy that Karen left us all. The music she left us is a true blessing; She will be missed.

 

[kennyv]

I didn't even know that she was gone that very sad day until I tuned in the local radio that constantly played series of wonderful songs without interruption...then words came from the DJ that Karen had indeed passed away. I was numb because that voice was magical and too irresistable to be taken for granted. I'll always miss you.....

 

[Mark-T]

This thread is surely a testimony to the fact that one person can impact so many others. Thanks again, K&R.

 

[joseph carey]

noted with sadness

a great voice and a great loss

here in ireland-our local rock/pop guru dave fanning dedicated his entire programme to the music of karen carpenter with musical and interview excerpts from her life and work-a real trip down memory lane. He even played modern covers to some of her songs -It was very poignant that one of the songs he played was "rainy days and mondays"

There were lots of text messages received during the programme testifying to the warmth and love with which karen was held by her many friends and fans Sometimes I feel that if this message had got through to her well things might have been different!

She had a unique voice-a unique talent-"a rose in may a flower too soon faded"

Thanks to herb alpert for having the foresight of identifying a superstar-a star for all seasons

 

[Victrolaguy]

I went to bed Monday listening to the "Close to You" album on my turntable. I didn't even know it was the anniversary of.... Sweet dreams, Karen!

 

[joseph carey]

noted- no better place to be listening to a great song-her music is timeless-its a pity that she and Richard didn't get the critical acclaim that they deserved when karen was alive-case of de mortuis nil nisi bonum i suppose-at least we are the vindicated-we were close to her music always-slan agus beannacht-jc

 

[Dave]

Isn't it really something how her Music still sounds so new...! Still a Revelation even as Time Goes By...



Dave

 

[joseph carey]

absolutely- i read somewhere that there are two types of music-good music and bad music-the carpenters are good music-their greatest hits which i listen to regularly is a treasure trove of musical and vocal excellence-the haunting voice-the fantastic arrangements!

 

[Dave]

And on the basis, of that, we could still use more people like Karen--and Richard--...!!!

Is there STILL anybody out there that even comes CLOSE to either of Those Two...???!!!



Dave

 

[joseph carey]

dont think so- a unique voice- a unique arrangement-great singing-great arranging!