Was nicknamed 'Freckle Face' as well by her peers.
2
She and her brother decided to record 'Honolulu City Lights' in 1978 after visiting Hawaii.
3
Wanted to name her children Kristi and Richard, after her brother.
4
On October 12, 1983, the Carpenters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
5
Another one of her favorite songs was 'Look to Your Dreams, which, although written in 1974 at the request of Karen, was not recorded until 1978, it was stored in the vaults of A&M because Richard believed it not to be commercially successful. In 1983, following the death of Karen, the song was finally completed and released on the "Voice of the Heart" album in October 1983.
6
'Now', which Carpenter recorded in April 1982 during a two week vacation from her stay in New York, was the last song she ever recorded.
7
Was godmother to her best friend Frenda Franklin's children Andrew and Ashley.
8
Was planning to go to the nail salon with Frenda Franklin the day she died in celebration of her divorce, as she was suppose to sign the papers to make her divorce from Tom Burris official that day.
9
Made her last public appearance on January 11, 1983 at a photo call of past Grammy winners to celebrate the Grammy's 25th anniversary. She appeared tired and frail, but was vibrant and outgoing.
10
When she was young, she enjoyed playing baseball with the other kids in the neighborhood.
11
Lived at 2222 Avenue of the Stars in Century City.
12
Playboy Magazine ranked Karen as the best rock drummer of 1975 during it's annual poll.
13
First started recording music with her brother in 1965 and 1966.
14
Was a fan of the novel, 'The Best Little Girl in the World' (1978), as her copy of the novel had been worn out extensively.
15
Expressed interest in starring in a movie or a musical.
16
Was a local favorite in her neighborhood as a child.
17
Was very skilled at playing baseball and pitching, earning the nickname 'Butterball' in grade school.
18
The last show she ever watched was a recorded episode of Magnum, P.I. (1980) the night before she died.
19
Was 19 years old when she was first signed to A & M Records.
20
Said that she never 'Smoked, did drugs, or drink,' with the exception of occasional wine.
Was planning to dye her hair bronze when she died.
25
Was born with dark blond hair.
26
Was originally offered the songs 'Rock with You' and 'Off the Wall' but declined the offer to do these songs, declaring them 'too funky.' They were later given to Michael Jackson.
27
Enrolled in tap dance and ballet classes at age 4.
28
Karen Carpenter died on February 4, 1983, a month away from what would have been her 33rd birthday on March 2.
29
Through her German ancestry, she and her brother are distantly related to Catholic reformer Martin Luther.
30
She and her brother, Richard Carpenter, were both awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6931 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 12, 1983.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 133-134. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
33
Arguably, her best performance is a song which was never even released. It was a song opted not to be used on her infamous aborted solo album. It is a song penned by Paul Jabara ["Last Dance"] and Jay Asher, and is called "Something's Missing (In My Life)". Many who have heard the work-lead feel it truly relates to Karen's personal struggles and depth of her feelings. The song remains unmixed and without strings. The song some people regard as her best Carpenters song is a song which was her personal favorite called "I Need to Be in Love".
The Carpenter Private Mausoleum in Westlake Village, California is a 46,000-pound, Partenope-style structure and was constructed in Texas over seven months. It is polished sunset red with beautiful warmth and color and lively crystal patterns. Similar structures have a price range of $600,000. Karen, Agnes, and Harold use up 3 out of 6 spaces in the mausoleum.
After the Carpenters became successful during the early 1970s, she and her brother bought two apartment buildings in Downey, California and called them "Close to You" and "Only Just Begun". Today, the "Close to You Apartments" can still be located at - 8356 East 5th, Downey, California.
41
The Carpenters' famous Newville house, located at 9828 Newville Avenue, Downey, California, is pictured in their fifth album "Now & Then". This was also the same house where Karen died.
42
The Carpenters catalog leads all A&M Records artists for the most number of compilation albums created from original material. It is also the catalog most often reissued.
43
In 1976, the Carpenters' tour of Japan was the largest grossing in Japanese history.
44
By 1977, the Carpenters received 11 gold records from Japan.
45
On September 4, 1978, the Carpenters gave their last concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
46
By June 1981, the Carpenters had sold over 55 million albums.
The doorbell in her Century City condo chimed the first six notes of "We've Only Just Begun".
50
Died a married woman. She was planning to officially sign divorce papers on the day she died.
51
Her family started the "Karen A. Carpenter Memorial Foundation", which raised money for research on anorexia nervosa and eating disorders. Today, the title has been changed to "Carpenter Family Foundation"... in addition to eating disorders, the foundation now funds the arts, entertainment and education.
52
Her childhood home was 55 Hall Street (in New Haven, Connecticut). She attended school at Nathan Hale Elementary School in Connecticut.
53
The Carpenters are still A&M Records' biggest and bestselling artists.
54
She befriended Cherry Boone while getting treated for Anorexia. Boone herself was a recovered anorectic.
55
In 1970, "(They Long to Be) Close to You" became the Carpenters' first certified Gold single.
56
In 1975, "Please Mr. Postman" became the Carpenters' 10th and last certified Gold single.
57
The Carpenters' second bestselling album is "Carpenters (the tan album)" - it has sold four million units since its release in 1971.
58
In 1998, the RIAA certified that "The Singles 1969 - 1973" had sold 7 million units since its release in 1973. This makes "The Singles 1969 - 1973" the Carpenters' bestselling album ever (as of 2005).
59
When she was 17, she went on the "Stillman Diet" with a doctor's guidance, and lost between 20 and 25 pounds
Had her own personalized driver's license plate which was: KAC3.
62
The rock band, Sonic Youth, wrote a song about Karen, called "Tunic (Song for Karen)". They also contributed to a 1994 tribute album for The Carpenters.
63
Sang "Because We Are In Love" at her 1980 wedding. The song was written by her brother Richard Carpenter and friend John Bettis.
64
Her ex-husband Tom Burris was a real-estate developer. At the time they met, Tom was a 39-year-old divorce with an 18-year-old son. Karen was 30 years old.
65
After her recovery, she planned to go public about her battle with anorexia.
During her solo endeavor, many of the demos Karen recorded were scrapped and decided not to be used for the album. Despite the rumor that only 11 tracks were completed and/or used, one more is indeed finished. It is a mellowed-out and heartfelt cover of Evie Sands's 1975 #50 Pop charter, "I Love Makin' Love to You". When A&M Records folded in 2000, it and 6 of out of the 8 demos began surfacing on the Internet. Fans who have heard Karen's version of "Makin' Love..." feel it is probably the best song to come out of her solo sessions. Sadly, it is unlikely it will ever official see the light of day, for many believe A&M discarded of the material when it closed its doors. Another song almost completed (even with backing vocals, but lacking orchestration) is a cover of Vicki Sue Robinson's "Don't Try to Win Me Back Again".
68
Her cover version of "(They Long to Be) Close to You" was originally recorded by Dusty Springfield in 1964, shortly before Dionne Warwick recorded it that same year. Dusty's was scheduled for release as a single, and potential follow-up to her No. 3 hit "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself". However, it was not until three years later, in 1967, that it finally was released on her album "Where Am I Going?", with the beginning intro cut from its release.
69
Went to Bora Bora for her honeymoon.
70
Had to have surgery on her ear, during the late 1970s, for impaired hearing.
71
Won three Grammy Awards.
72
Loved to play softball/baseball and played the drums.
73
Won the 1966 "Battle of the Bands" contest at the Hollywood Bowl.
74
Her favorite Carpenters song was "I Need to Be In Love".
75
Songwriter Peter Cetera wrote "Making Love in the Afternoon" for her.
Her funeral took place on February 8, 1983 at the United Methodist Church in Downey, California.
81
Ranked #30 on "E!'s 101 Most Shocking Moments In Entertainment History".
82
Songwriter Paul Williams wrote "Rainy Days and Mondays" for her.
83
Collected Disney memorabilia.
84
In 1976, she bought a Century City condominium. she gutted two separate apartments and turned it into one. The address was 2222 Avenue of the Stars. As a housewarming-gift, her mother Agnes Carpenter gave her a collection of leather-bound classic works of literature.
85
The Carpenters franchise is very big and popular in Japan.
86
The song "Now", recorded in April 1982, was the last song she ever recorded.
87
She did not like the song "Superstar" until after hearing her brother's arrangement for it; she then considered it one of her favorites that the Carpenters had done.
88
As of April 2004, her brother Richard Carpenter has made four new Carpenters albums since her death. This is possible by using songs that were left off previous albums and making new albums out of them. He also uses songs that Karen recorded and then later arranges music to accompany them.
Ranked #29 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
97
On Thursday, December 11, 2003 she, Agnes and Harold were exhumed from Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California and were moved to Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California. Agnes, Karen and Harold remained in their original caskets. At 12:30pm PST, they were all re-interred and entombed in a private family mausoleum in the Tranquility Gardens section of the cemetery.
98
Was married at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the Crystal Room.
99
At age 30, she made a solo album with producer Phil Ramone in 1980, titled "Karen Carpenter". However, it was shelved by A&M executive Herb Alpert. 16 years later in 1996, it was finally released.
100
In her mid 20s, she was still living with her parents.
