To honor the career of Richard and Karen Carpenter, one of the greatest popular
music duos of our time, the Downey City Library has established the Carpenters
Collection.
In 1963, the Carpenter family moved to Downey, where Richard and Karen attended
Downey High School. They helped form an instrumental trio in 1965, which won
a battle of the bands at the Hollywood Bowl. They were signed to a recording
contract, but their songs were never released. After disbanding, Richard and
Karen formed a new vocal group at California State University, Long Beach,
where they both had enrolled. This group was also short-lived.
Phenomenal success was just around the corner, though. Richard and Karen
signed a contract with A&M Records in 1969. Their first single, "Ticket
to Ride," was a modest hit, but their next release, "Close to You," was
a number one best seller, with over one million copies bought. During the next
several years, the Carpenters achieved fame with a string of top 40 hits and
sold-out concerts around the world. They were three-time Grammy winners and
made numerous television appearances.
In 1983, after a long battle with anorexia nervosa, Karen suffered a heart
attack and died at her parents' home in Downey. She lives on in the many recordings
that feature her beautiful voice, and in the work of several vocalists who
acknowledge her influence. Richard continues to write, arrange, produce, and
perform music, and was a driving force in the establishment of the Richard
and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center at California State University,
Long Beach. And their recordings continue to be treasured by old and new fans
alike.
The Carpenters Collection comprises CDs, books, songbooks, albums, videocassettes,
a fan club newsletter series, and publicity materials. Many of the books, CDs,
and videos may be checked out. Other materials are housed in a display case
located near the circulation desk.
The Carpenters' music still enjoys popularity and a following in many countries
around the world. Fans from Japan, after visiting the Downey City Library website,
have graciously donated items to the Library. The Library wishes to thank Eiko
Akimoto, Yoko Ebisu, Takeshi Harima, Hiromi Hirahata, Hiroko Miura, Shoko Miyazaki,
Shinji Nomura, Michiyo Nonaka, Yuka Ogura, Noriko Saji, Hitoshi Sakano, Isamu
Shimizu, Masahide Takahashi, Norobu Takamore, and Kenji Tominaga.
The Downey City Library is grateful to Richard Carpenter for a donation
of Carpenters recordings and to the Friends of the Downey City Library for a
grant which enabled the Library to purchase other materials.
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