Died On This Date (February 4, 1983) Karen Carpenter / ’70s Pop Darling
themusicsover Karen Carpenter
May 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983
Karen Carpenter was a drummer and singer who gained tremendous fame during the ’70s when she and her brother, Richard Carpenter performed as The Carpenters. When Karen was in high school, she took an interest in the drums and quickly learned she was a naturally gifted player like her brother was on the piano. After a lot of practice she and her Richard began performing together. In 1965, they formed a jazz group they called the Richard Carpenter Trio, but in 1968, they couldn’t deny Karen’s tremendous voice, so they began to focus more on pop music. Karen and Richard were signed by A&M Records in 1969 as The Carpenters, and within just one year, they began releasing a string of singles that went on to become some of the most memorable pop songs of the era. Songs like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Top of the World,” “Close To You,” and “Yesterday Once More” helped define the ’70s as the duo went on to sell millions of singles and albums. Sadly however, Karen suffered quietly with what would later be called anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that lead her to diet frequently. The late ’70s were troublesome for Karen, but after at least one failed relationship and years of battling her inner demons, she was ready to kick-start her career by the early ’80s. But unfortunately, her eating disorder had already resulted in irreversible damage to her organs. On February 4, 1983, Karen Carpenter died of heart failure which was attributed to her anorexia nervosa. She was 32 years old.
What You Should Own
Jimmy Durante was a curiously popular singer and actor of the 1920s through the 1970s. Not known for having a traditional singing voice or leading-man good looks, Durante nonetheless became one of entertainments most popular fixtures during his career. After learning to play ragtime piano, Durante dropped out of school while still in his early teens to pursue a career in music. He began by playing in several ragtime and New Orleans jazz bands. He scored his first hit with “Inka Dinka Do” in 1934, and soon went on to become a popular draw on Broadway. Durante started appearing in popular films during the early ’30s, and would do so until 1963’s It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. And of course, Durante also conquered radio and television throughout his career. His face that only a mother could love was very familiar on TV through most of his later career. He was also the narrator for the wildly popular Frosty The Snowman cartoon special that has aired every year since 1969. In ailing health during his final years, Jimmy Durante passed away from pneumonia on January 29, 1980. He was 86 years old.
Jeanette MacDonald was one of the most popular musical actresses and singers of the ’30s and ’40s. She appeared in nearly 30 films and released numerous albums over the course of her career, her most popular being with 