Karen Carpenter

Singer-drummer Karen Carpenter was the sweet, ethereal voice of the Carpenters, a polished pop vocal act featuring her brother, Richard, which generated numerous Top 10 hits throughout the early 1970s, including "(They Long to Be) Close to You," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Top of the World," among many others. Slight and seemingly shy, Carpenter nevertheless projected an image of radiant, all-American good cheer, which stood in direct contrast to her off-stage life, which was plagued by an eating disorder that would ultimately claim her life in 1983. Carpenter's tragic death helped to shed much-needed light on anorexia and bulimia, which in turn allowed many young people to seek the treatment necessary for the debilitating illnesses. Karen Carpenter's ultimate legacy was one of benevolence, both as a singer and as a cautionary tale for those struggling to overcome the disease that cut short her promising career and silenced one of the most beautiful voices in popular music history.