With 11 gold records between them, the Carpenters were invited to perform at the White House annual State Dinner in May of 1973. President Richard Nixon appreciated the duo for more than just their music. Maybe he was drawn to them as Southern California neighbors, too, but he took the opportunity to have them as guests and praise them for their contributions to cancer research.
Karen, 22-years-old at the time, chaired the national youth American Cancer Society. It was a huge honor for the adorable sibling duo, but it didn’t help their goody-two-shoes reputation, or as Richard called it, “goody-four-shoes.”
Karen’s Enduring Influence
The tragic loss of Karen was not lost on the rock ‘n’ roll world. Artists continue to celebrate her gift to music to this very day. Sonic Youth released “Tunic (Song for Karen)” on their 'Goo' album as a tribute and elegy for the superstar.
Artists who have called Karen an inspiration include such successful singers as Madonna, Sheryl Crow, and Shania Twain. On the album 'If I Were a Carpenter', a tribute album, many artists recorded alt-rock covers of the duo’s top hits.
Sold Out Shows
The Carpenters toured diligently. Their concert schedule from 1971 to 1975 included well over 100 shows each year. In 1974, they played 208 shows. The largest show took place at the Ohio State Fair in 1971. The summer show brought in over 50,000 people to see the duo play. One of the most significant gigs was their performance at the 1972 Academy Awards show. They performed “Bless the Beasts and the Children.” It was beautiful; however, they were criticized for lip-syncing the song.
Once again, they were ahead of their time. In 1976 they recorded a live show at the prestigious London Palladium. Their popularity is amazing. “The Karen Carpenter Story,” a CBS documentary made after her death in 1988, was the highest-rated TV movie of the year.
Superstars Rarely Escape the Stress of Fame
The Carpenters experienced their fair share of celebrity’s dark underside. With Karen obsessing over her self-image and Richard struggling too, they toured all over the world and sold 100 million records.
All that success didn’t add up to peace of mind. Unfortunately for Karen, like so many other pop stars, it was deadly.
The Karen A. Carpenter Memorial Foundation
The Carpenter family founded the Karen A. Carpenter Memorial Foundation after she passed in order to raise awareness about anorexia nervosa. The organization raises money that goes toward research and treatment. As the foundation has evolved, so has its name.
The name is now The Carpenter Family Foundation, and it funds a wide variety of initiatives that combat the wider issue of eating disorders. Programs include education, entertainment facilities, and even art programs.