She was pronounced dead at Downey Community Hospital (now PIH Health Hospital – Downey) at 9:51 a.m.Īn autopsy released on March 11, 1983, ruled out drug overdose, attributing death to “emetine cardiotoxicity due to or as a consequence of anorexia nervosa”. Paramedics found her heart beating once every 10 seconds (6 bpm). Shortly after waking up on that day, she collapsed in her bedroom at her parents’ home in Downey. Three days later, on February 4, Carpenter was scheduled to sign final papers making her divorce official. On February 1, 1983, Carpenter saw her brother for the last time and discussed new plans for the Carpenters and resuming touring. Karen and her brother in a 1981 interview: They have sold more than 90 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Their music continues to attract critical acclaim and commercial success. Extensive news coverage surrounding these circumstances increased public awareness of eating disorders. Their joint career ended in 1983 when Karen died from heart failure brought on by complications of anorexia. The duo toured continually during the 1970s, which put them under increased strain Richard took a year off in 1979 after he had become addicted to Quaalude, while Karen suffered from anorexia nervosa. During their 14-year career, the Carpenters recorded 10 albums along with numerous singles and several television specials. The Carpenters produced a distinct soft musical style, combining Karen’s contralto vocals with Richard’s harmonizing, arranging and composition skills. The singer had earlier said she would not get married as long as she was touring, but she changed her mind during her relationship with Tom. Tom Burris was a 39-year-old divorcee with an 18-year-old son when he met singer and drummer Karen Carpenter at Ma Maison restaurant in early 1980. While Carpenters were on hiatus in the late 1970s, she recorded a solo album, which was released years after her death. Thomas Burris and Karen Carpenters marriage. Initially, Carpenter was the band’s full-time drummer, but gradually took the role of frontwoman as drumming was reduced to a handful of live showcases or tracks on albums.

After several years of touring and recording, Carpenters were signed to A&M Records in 1969, achieving commercial and critical success throughout the 1970s. She began to study the drums in high school and joined the Long Beach State choir after graduating. She and her brother, Richard, formed the popular 1970s duo Carpenters. 4 February 1983 (aged 32) Karen Anne Carpenter was a highly successful American pop singer and drummer. Moved with their parents to California in 1963 and settled in Los Angeles. New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. You can see the text providing warnings, yet the image becomes idol, and you ignore the caution.They were born in New Haven, Connecticut, Richard Lynn Carpenter (born in 1946) and Karen Anne Carpenter (in 1950). This is twisted, it makes me feel twisted, and all too aware of the voyeuristic pleasures associated with looking at these women. We look at celebrities to feel better about ourselves. Even the image above, I haven't been able to stop looking at it, comparing their appearances, how Richie used to look, and contemplating if she looks better smaller, or what could be her ideal. And people continue to make a lot of money off of it. Karen Carpenter had the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, which was little-known at the time, and was briefly married in the early 1980s. People made money off of it, a lot of money off of it. Karen's death started a discussion on the impact of pressures to be skinny, but I can't help to wonder what the motivation for providing this media and educational resources about anorexia was. I think Superstar: The Story of Karen Carpenter got to that a bit, specifically in the interview section of less than famous experts who discussed her life, but ultimately the film still focused a lot on her eating disorder.

All I'm trying to put out there is that I think Karen deserves to be remembered as more than just a face of anorexia and bulimia.

Karen carpenters last photo