Richard & Karen Carpenter Exhibit
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During the height of their popularity, Carpenters earned 11 gold albums and 10 gold singles in the United States alone. Since that time, Carpenters have continued to gain new fans, both in the U.S. and abroad, with international sales exceeding 100 million copies. Many of their albums are now multi-platinum. The Carpenter Center is proud to display the gold and platinum records of Carpenters.
A copy of a 1973 Hot 100 Billboard Chart lists "Top of the World" in the #1 spot. Rolling Stone featured Richard and Karen on the cover of its July 1974 issue. The exhibit also includes a rare copy of Karen's 1966 Magic Lamp single.
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Also on display is the lead sheet for "They Long to Be Close to You," which became their best selling single in the United States. In late 1969, A&M co-founder Herb Alpert asked Carpenters to cover this little-known Burt Bacharach/Hal David song. Richard found just the right approach to the song, and with their unforgettable vocals, "(They Long to Be) Close to You" raced to #1 in just six weeks. It was the first of many hits for Karen and Richard, and established Carpenters as a household name.
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Former students of CSULB’s music program, Carpenters remained close to their alma mater. They came back for several benefit concerts, each time to help the University Choir meet the cost of tours to such far-flung places as Hawaii and Europe. In 1994, the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center opened at the school that has always been close to Carpenters.
If you are interested in further information about Richard, Karen or their recording careers, we suggest contacting:
The Carpenters Fan Club
P.O. Box 3787
Thousand Oaks, CA 91359-0787
fanemail@richardandkarencarpenter.com
http://www.richardandkarencarpenter.com