Karen Carpenter: Kickass Drummer (Drum Solos)
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- Опубликовано: 18 фев 2011
- Karen Carpenter was best known for her hauntingly beautiful singing voice, but she considered herself a "drummer who sang." (more below)
Karen first became fascinated with the drums after joining the high school marching band to get out of gym class. She persuaded the band director to let her switch from glockenspiel to the drums, despite warnings that "girls don't play drums." Carpenter recalled, "That is such an overused line, but I started anyway. I picked up a pair of sticks, and it was the most natural-feeling thing I've ever done." In a 1969 article titled “Girl on the Drums Can Sing as Well,” Karen said, "It was an up-hill battle. Boys treated me like I was attempting to try out as quarterback for the Rams. Drumming was just something a girl didn’t do.”
Her first drum teacher was a boy in the drumline obsessed with Buddy Rich. Later, she studied with Bill Douglass, a drummer for Benny Goodman and Art Tatum. At the age of 16, she drummed jazz instrumentals with her pianist brother in the Richard Carpenter Trio, winners of the 1966 Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands. Earlier the same year, Karen had scored a solo record contract, but the label folded after releasing only one of her singles. In 1968, the Richard Carpenter Trio also won on "Your All-American College Show," this time with Karen singing as well as drumming. In 1969, the Carpenters released their first album, and thanks to 1970's "Close to You," they became superstars.
In the early years, Karen stayed behind the drums and sang at the same time, but was pressured to give up her beloved drums to sing front and center, at least on the ballads.
Her skills were complimented by drummers Hal Blaine, Cubby O'Brien, Modern Drummer magazine, and even Buddy Rich himself.
CLIPS:
0:01 "The Karen Carpenter Story" (1989) starring Cynthia Gibb and Louise Fletcher: • Video
0:11 "Iced Tea" (1966) The Richard Carpenter Trio: • The Carpenters Iced Tea
0:25 "Dancing in the Street" (1968) The Richard Carpenter Trio, "Your All-American College Show": • CARPENTERS Your All-Am...
0:47 "Help!" (1972) Carpenters Live in Australia: • Video
1:05 "Mr. Guder" (1973) The Tonight Show: • Carpenters - Tonight S...
3:14 "Johnny B. Good" (1974) The Carpenters Live at Budokan: • Carpenters - Live at B...
4:42 The Carpenters' First Television Special (1976) : • THE CARPENTERS FIRST T...
4:56 "Strike Up The Band" Medley (1976) The Carpenters in Osaka: • carpenters 1976 osaka ...
5:50 "Strike Up The Band" Medley (1976) Live in London : • Video
7:44 "I Got Rhythm" Medley (1980) Music Music Music: • Carpenters - Music Mus...
For more videos of Karen Carpenter drumming not already cited, you can watch...
"Karen Carpenter Drum Solo - 1976 First Television Special": • Karen Carpenter Drum S...
"Karen Carpenter - The Drummer": • Karen Carpenter - The ... 
Развлечения
Look at the absolute joy on her face during "Johnny B. Goode." Flipping her hair, leaning into the kit and just plain rockin'!
That woman could PLAY.
I love seeing her so happy on the drums ❤️
Not only was her voice PERFECT, intonation, phrasing, perfect pitch, range, the whole package, she was an INCREDIBLE drummer, not just good, she was GREAT. SO damn sad every time I think about how she left this earth so soon.
unreal talent
Amazing lady... she never seemed more happy than when she was on the drums.
Ryder Spearmann Agree, what a waste of a wonderful human being
Yup! Her husband and brother had a LOT to answer for!
It satisfies like nothing else.
Yep. And when she accidentally showed her voice the prodercers took over and ran her to the ground.
@@DMSProduktions and let's not forget her "mother"
What a phenomenal talent, incredibly fast and accurate, not to mention she could sing better than just about anyone, incredible girl.
Agreed! I know nothing about drumming but it always seemed to me she was fast and accurate at the drums.
I even watched her stand and hit each drum in a long row in exactly the same spot without looking at
times and I saw her hit a couple of drums that way with her eyes closed to.
She was one of the best drummers of all time period she is up there with Gene Krupa Buddy rich Alex Van Halen Neil Pert Ginger Baker yes sir one of the best thanks for sharing this gem 😎🎶
Neil Peart thought so also- after she had died even.
Great drummer, great singer. Good Lord I miss her.
When Karen played drums she smiled.
When Karen smiled the world was a brighter place.
This is a woman who was seriously underrated on the "coolness" scale. A real talent.
soft pop wasnt' as widely appreiated, those the most popular.
Smokin. Just smokin. And best of all was the look of bliss on her face while she played! It just makes you smile.
Yes, didn’t she look so happy and content while drumming?!?
Gotta love Karen, and if I may say so, you have a very captivating smile yourself :)
She looks happiest when she's drumming. I really feel for what she went through and her family.
+Valerie Baca (Mistress Of The Unicorns) She she does happy. Yes she did have a lot of fun doing it. It's too bad she had to give it up full time to be the official lead vocalist. The drums are not really a front man's instrument. They are usually in the back, and you can't really see the singer from behind them. Karen is a very talented woman, and despite her weaknesses with anorexia nervosa, which were not dealt with soon enough, she did manage to make up for it with her extraordinary abilities behind the kit and at the mike. I guess being the lead vocalist does have a price at times.
The primary reason why she had to give up full time drumming was because of the popularity of the group, as the audiences at the concert halls started to fill up, and her appearance was being obscured by her huge drum kit, and there was a huge demand for her singing, and they wanted to be able to see her. She was only five feet two or five feet three inches tall. So Richard decided to have her switch jobs. Karen was enraged by the idea, so Richard decided to have her stand out front on the songs she sang lead on, and play the drums on the instrumental pieces, or where someone else had the lead vocal on, as a compromise, and this was the final result.
no . the reason she had to give up drumming is because she was getting all the attention
She deserved the attention. She was exemplary.
I Know... Me To Valerie.. (Look..I've Seen Karen When She Was So Called Overweight... She Was Perfect... I Have No Idea Why They Put That Bulls**t in Her Head..I'm Just Gonna Leave it at That.. Because I Get Seriously Hurt and Angry When I Start Focusing on This.. )
👍 Thanks for posting this. There are those who don’t realize how great a drummer she was. I can’t believe she was able to drum and sing at the same time.
That's a good title. Give her the "Kick Ass Drummer Award"
Gives me chills how good she was. Should be shown to young girls to show a woman can be a drummer, too.
WOW... FUCK WOW. Gotta love RUclips for bringing this amazing footage to a newer generation.
Wow... i've listened to Carpenters since I was a kid... never once did I know that she was a badass at the drums... wow...
I found out later on as well...when the movie came out actually. So I knew she could play the drums, but only recently I been finding out that she could kick a-- on the drums. Seeing some of these solo's, I am like Holy Moly she sure CAN play those drums. Growing up though, when I saw the Carpenters perform, Karen was mostly in front of the band just singing and this was well after the Carpenter's rose to fame. Then they aired the Karen Carpenter story on TV, that is when I was shocked and amazed that she could play the drums. I had seen many other programs with her playing the drums thereafter, but I never seen her really get down and deep into a drum solo before. I have to hand it to her, an excellent drummer as well as singer.
SAME, GREAT VIDEO
Hands-down, one of the most underrated drummers of all time.
Thank you for posting this. It's really beautiful to see Karen looking so very joyful. She really loved playing those drums and she did it so well! She played with her own style & flare. This is a real treat. :-)
DAMN! She was EXCELLENT on drums! Notice how she uses "traditional" grip.........Buddy Rich was so right to be so proud of her skills:)
Shades of Gene Krupa too!
It's amazing how her and buddy rich never crossed paths.
@@founboy78 I read that cubby O'Brien took karen to meet buddy rich one night and buddy told her that she was one of his favorite drummers. That's high praise if it's true.
Chewy Ltd Richard was 90% deadweight in performances. Karen was the star, only her voice was needed as a lead vocalist, backup singers would have been a nice addition. Since Richard was the Apple of Momma’s eye no way was he ever going to leave the stage or not share top billing. I found that his dinky music box was a distraction not contributing to the songs. If he was a good composer and arranger so be it let him run rehearsals and adapt the songs.
@@bobbypaluga4346 You are 900% wrong. First off without Richard there would have been no Carpenters at all, no show, and no 19 year old waif singing. Second, their sibling harmony is the real magic of the act and what put them on the map and conquered the world and continues to reverberate throughout history. Without him, uh, it's not there. Seeing the two sing together is legendary and a treat for all those who were fortunate enough to witness them.
She was a dynamite drummer with a beautiful voice like silk. A truly great talent who left us far too soon.
She's got that jazzy big band swing. Killer
At 4:57 and onward it almost looks like she's painting when she is drumming quickly. To the average viewer, it's hard to even notice how quickly she's moving her hands but rather how fluidly the sticks are traveling over the drum. This is fascinating to watch! I mean, this is art!
Notice how she uses the slow part to brush back her hair? 👍
WOW, Richard always said that Karen was a drummer first and a singer second and now I know what he was talking about. I had no idea that she was this good. What a phenomenal talent she was and such a pity she's gone. What's that saying, the light that shines twice as bright burns only half as long?
curious, if Richard knew that, why did he pick such a bad drummer to play her in the MFTV movie? But a very decent keyboard player to play himself, I noticed...
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Probably because he put an ad in the trades that said "WANTED: Female drummer that looks like Karen Carpenter" and only one person answered, so he hired her.
Just like Phil Collins. Drummer first then singer, and WAY underrated
My favorite female musician… Hands down… No other woman compares… She was ELITE...
Eric E Gutierrez As stated in "The Karen Carpenter Story" she had a one in a million voice....
Oooh yeahhhh, hands down!
And sticks!
Yes, she was a very talented musician.
Her talent was not of this world. She lived and breathed it, second nature to her, stupendous.
Holy Shit!!!!!!!!! That was AWESOME!!!! I knew she drummed but I never knew she did it at that caliber!!!! Talk about someone with polar opposites in the same person! On one side, a Kick Ass drummer and on the other, the best mellow singer in the world!!! WOW!! Thanks for this video!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU SAID IT THE RIGHT WAY
I'm just so elated that people including young adults are discovering and rediscovering the great talents of Karen Carpenter, she was truly amazing, I enjoy reading the great comments, we all love her, Lead Sister!
Oh my god ,, she was so fast , !!! Her double strokes are so smooth, I need to keep practicing. I knew she was good but finding this video has blown me away and made me love her even more and I didn't think that was possible.. Love you eternally Karen RIP sweetie xxx
Tom Elbourne
sweet man. Ya
she was a beautiful soul .Sometimes those are the ones who can't or dont want to make it in this corrupt world. Anyway, bless her ☺👏👏
Damn awesome drummer this lady. Multi talented angel we lost too early.
best female drummer ever in my opinion
You check out Viola Smith
One of the best. Female not part of it. :)
One of the best drummers ever agreed not just female involved.
Awesome. She loves it.
How many can you name? Karen, Sheila E, whoever played for the BANGLES, and is that it?
All around massive talent. A rare diamond that we lost. No doubt leading the choir in the great beyond.
My respect and admiration for her talents just grows and grows...Wow!
I agree, if you were like me back them we ignored them. It was so far from what young guys were listening to. Once I stopped and listen to them, well, lets just say there's not another like her and there never will be. Besides the ungodly talent, she was a really cool chick that everyone loved. Her brother was a genius, What a pair.
This does not surprise me that Karen also had this talent, this apparent mastery of an instrument other than voice. It is easy to forget what a talented piano player Richard was. These kids were real musicians. Nothing artificial here, in this period in popular music. Whatever you heard, your eye, if keen enough, could spy the source. No hiding. Karen's voice transcends the ages. I am to wonder what it is she would have become had tragedy not befallen her at such a young age. Inarguably one of the most significant losses the entertainment industry has suffered in the last half of the 20th century.
She could have played with any swing band in the 30's. Amazing.
Indeed. And sung with them too. Ever hear any of the tragically few big band era torch songs Carpenters recorded? No one could sing those songs like Karen. No one. Ever. Best example: "I Can Dream, Can't I", a 1938 standard, orchestrated by bandleader Billy May for the 1975 Carpenters album "Horizon". Heavenly. It is fun to imagine Karen singing this live, with a big band, then settling in behind the drums and going blissfully Gene Krupa with the "jungle drum" solo on the beginning of "Sing Sing Sing"...she could've aced that.
She was a natural at everything she did...quite an amazing person.
Well, I grew up when the Carpenters were in their prime, but only songs I ever heard were their soft rock stuff which I was totally not into...embarrassed to only see now how good of a drummer she really was. Much respect for the late, great Karen Carpenter!
Same here. Just finding out just how talented and versatile Karen really was, and what an extraordinary drummer she was... I was today-years-old!!! Thank you RUclips.
I had know idea she drummed. I never knew and then to sing along as well. I am just blown away. what incredible talent. Karen will always continue to move people.
RawPianoLady she actually preferred playing drums to singing, atleast early on--had to be coerced to singing by Richard---
No idea.
@@windstorm1000 Was it Richard, or the record label?
Wow she had great technique with the sticks, I think she was a natural, had that fast twitch with her hands like a buddy rich
great drummer + great singer + voice that blew anyone's mind
talent like this doesn't show up on Earth not even every five years, nor it can be found on street-wise performers that collect 1 million views on youtube
there was NO doubt she was competent on the drums......incredible talent.....RIP KC
This is amazing and comforting to those who love Karen. Look how happy and energized on the drum or drums. Simply hope more people can see this video, full of joy to move forward.
KAren seems a lot happier when she was playing the drums, and she was a damn good drummer. It seemed as time went on with the carpenters, the less she played the drums. It's too bad she didn't become a solo artist or a session drummer. SHe wouldn't have made as much money, but she might be alive today. May she rest in peace
I also just mentioned in my comment that she would have loved being a fill drummer. I am trying to imagine what it would have been like to see her fill in for the Who or Led Zepplin.
WHAT TALENT
My dad was a pianist who loved the Carpenters and played their songs a lot. I'm so glad he turned me on to them since they were before my time. I love Karen..her voice touches my soul every time. Now i'm passing my love for the Carpenters down to my little brother. Every generation should know about them...they're still awesome!
she played CORRECTLY ! those accented double stroke rolls / paradiddles / rudiments etc. .... arn't just something a drummer ''picks up on'' >>> she obviously studied and practiced at a professional lvl early on (u don't just flip over a trash can and and pull that shit off, u know?)
she was good wasn't she ? ... RIP Karen
I agree, I really notice the accents with her and it makes you realize how much more nuanced drumming is than what you normally hear.
Yes she was absolutely amazing, every bit as good as Buddy Rich and the rest of those famous jazz drummers of the day! I'm not a drummer, but a bass player!
The syncopation...
@@DebbieW1965Even though "good" is subjective, no one will accept that she's "as good" as Buddy Rich. No other drummer can do what Buddy does, nor Bonham nor Krupa for that matter. Karen is an excellent. electrifying drummer, but she does do one thing EXTREMELY WELL that no other drummer can do. She sounds like Karen Carpenter. In my book that makes her equal to those guys. Besides that who wants to play like Buddy? I prefer music, myself. Besides that, Buddy is an utter arsehole. Karen is a sweet, precious, nice person. Score? KAREN ALL THE WAY!!!!
You're wrong, she did just "pick it up," which shows her incredible talent. That's what talent is, a "born with it" ability to do easily or even effortlessly things that are impossible or very difficult for others to do, and she had that with drumming. That's why we get chill bumps from her, it's something supernatural and we can sense that even if we don't know much about drumming. She didn't start early and study like you said, she started when she was fifteen and was a pro, on stage, on TV, winning over other talented California youths a year later. Part of that shows the "pro oriented" training available in California where your instructors are likely to be practicing session musicians or even former touring pros and prospective stars. Part of that is Richard and friends influence on her, which would have been great. I also noticed how smoothly she plays and was surprised. She sounds buttery smooth and fluid. It's just with me, someone says "You need to play evenly, with every stroke the same volume and no hesitation, here' use this metronome and try to play it like this." And 40+ years and countless hours of practice later I'm still trying to get that down. With her, the same guy told her the same thing, and an hour later she had it.
She was an outstanding drummer! But I don't blame those who wanted her to focus on her angelic vocals as well. She was just an all around natural talent!
@Chewy Ltd She did play the drums and sing, just not all of the time. Richard wanted to feature her out front on certain songs ,and rightfully so, but she was more comfortable behind the skins.
@Chewy Ltd Perhaps they never found the way to properly showcase her. She was a phenomenon.
People like you and the music industry only think of your f****** self not one person thought about what Karen Carpenter wanted she said herself I am a drummer who can also sing people should have took this approach instead that is keep playing the drums and sitting at the same time the real problem was Richard and her stick as mother held her back from becoming who she really was Richard knew he would not anyway without his sister
@@davidbyrnes6111 people like blaming everyone else for someone’s personal problems. Not to be insensitive but just like Demi Levato and her idiotic comments against an ice cream shop for being insensitive need to grow up! The world isn’t accountable for your personal issues.
@@davidbyrnes6111 yeah I kinda thought the same where if she had been allowed to focus on what she really enjoyed doing she might not have been affected by anorexia. With how physically demanding drumming like that is she would not have been able to get away without eating properly. And not being front and center in the limelight would have probably made her less conscious of her weight and allow her to focus on what she seemed to truly enjoy
Pure joy to watch her
Yeah Karen, "Why Not ?". I am speechless. I really had no idea what a fabulous drummer she really was (and never even knew she played the drums until I watched "The Karen Carpenter Story"). Her ballads and the songs she's famous for never revealed that about her.
My favorite 70s female artist! I sing a 2nd alto in the same range as Karen.
Nurse Kathy lol, I guess we all can make spelling errors. When I came back to see which comment I made that you responded to I noticed that I typed "ballots" instead of "ballads"..yes, I know the difference :-). I guess it can happen when you're in a hurry (and thinking about an upcoming election). That's some range you have, and if you have any videos, please feel free to share.
John Dahlman I didn't even notice! Lol! Mine are usually from rushing, or I can't find my glasses and am responding without them , yikes!
I don't have any videos but my 1 of my oldest daughters does. She is in her late 20s now, but in high school was in show choir and competed across our state winning the highest ratings each time. She was selected as 1 of the top sopranos in the state her senior year. 1 out of 20. They all spent a week together and preformed together. She has lots of natural talent and apptitude for music. I did not lol. I had to work hard at it. I will tag you in some of her videos.
Thanks for posting. I had never seen that Johnny B Goode segment before. Amazing talent...
I saw the Carpenters in 1972. I was hitch -hiking thru Vegas. It was October. The Mid night show was at the Riviera Casino.$ 8.50 for the show. Skiles and Henderson opened for them. Pete Henderson would later often sing with the band..Karenwas only comfortable behind the drums. She literalyy glowed. On you tube if you want to see what i saw watch a clip of her singing HELP at the Boudakan in Japan -she shines and is funny and playfull. Front and center she often fidgeted and you you could see she wanted to run back to the drums..She did not know what to do with her hands.
Absolutely marvelous and magical! Karen was phenomenal! I remember her TV network specials with her brother!
She was cool as a cucumber on those drums. Likes shes whispering them to dance. Makes it look so very easy. What talent . We lost her so soon. And what she and her brother as the Carpenters did with Paul Williams compositions. No better choice than them.
This is simply amazing. Karen Carpenter,wish there were more musicians with your fire. RIP
Karen was quite the ripper ... learned the right way to drum ... no matched grip hacking !
just a natural musician, born to it.
She was so GREAT GREAT GREAT!!! Richard too! I long to see talent of this caliber in the public mainstream again....
WOOOOOOWEEEEEE! Amazing Karen!
Prodigious talent. She looks happy!
WOW! So the pop was for the money which is cool. Had no idea Karen was such a great drummer with one amazingly gifted voice. Thanks for posting this.
I forgot how freakin' hot Karen was on the drums! Jazzy too. What an amazing woman to have that talent together with such a beautiful voice unprecedented and unmatched to this day. And the fun she had on stage was infectious. What a team she and her brother were. Very, very talented and professional, both of them.
OMG I never knew what an awesome drummer she was, and I grew up with the Carpenters. Incredible.
Wow, Karen was amazing on drums and I never knew. Richard is no slouch on the ivory either...damn, what a talented family.
Indeed! One hell of a team--brother and sister too! I think it's also awesome that they made it big when hard rock was pretty dominant.
She was awesome. Thank you for posting this video
People don’t usually think of badass rocker when they think of Karen Carpenter (myself included) though I’d always loved her voice. Thanks so much for posting this. The video quality is a bit iffy at first (what can we expect from obscure 70s footage, just glad you found it) but can make it a bit hard to see her hands. The drumming of course says it all. She looked so joyful and relaxed. Thanks also to Fred Armisen who gives Karen Carpenter a shout-out on his New Standup for Drummers video (the audience of drummers and especially some female voices are way enthusiastic) so perhaps more people will search out this video.
My favorite singer of ALL-TIME playing the drums the way she did!!! I play drums in my local band and I am blown-away by this video!!
that steady roll of taps is fucking incredible
When I was eleven I got dragged screaming and kicking to a Carpenters concert.After the drum solo I became a life long fan.I was sad when they got another drummer.She didn't have to worry about her weight when she was behind her beloved drums.
marchristiansen same thing here. Parents took us to see them in Lake Tahoe in 1974. Didn't want to go. Sure glad I did. First time I saw a girl play drums. Absolutely fell in love with her.
As show stoppingly awesome Karen is on this compilation is anyone else but me noticing Richard's chops?! Jeez Louise that cat could play too!!
An amazing drummer and one of the most beautiful voices in pop music history. I grew up with The Carpenters and their music still brings up feelings and memories whenever I hear it. I still think of it as such a sad and tragic loss to the music industry as well as her family, friends and fans. RIP Karen Carpenter.
I had no idea!! She was truly an amazing musician !!!!! I mean 1 in 1000 !!!
She is really talent girl .
well done!!! thanks so much for compiling and posting this. it's awesome. nice touches---Todd Haynes film intro and KC saying 'isn't that fun!' at the end.
Utterly amazing. I had no idea. Thanks for this .
im impressed!!!!!! In my life ive only known very few female drummers.She's amazing
Fine drummer with a haunting voice.
This must be a great example of the art of drums 👍🎤
Karen was something special. And what an incredible drummer! I almost break down in tears thinking of how she died WAY too soon, and how it devastated Herb Alpert, who got her on his record label and got her to be famous. He loved her like a daughter, and he just can't talk about her without breaking down. Since I took up the trumpet in 2011 because of Herb Alpert inspiring me through his old Tijuana Brass songs, I want to someday meet him, and love him very much--so much a part of my life through his wonderful music. I'm a rocker from way back, but Herb's music inspired me to play the trumpet as well as drums. It stands to reason I'd also have a similar attachment to Karen. Just thinking about her life and how it ended just makes me profoundly sad. Such a sad sad loss of a beautiful person. RIP, Karen, I still love you and what you stood for and always will!
Having listened for months on end to Karen's ballads, coming across this video which superbly captures Karen's jaw-dropping drumming talent its... its...... well, it is just totally INSANE (in a good way, of course)!!! O_o For every time she strikes the drums, I fall in love with Karen that much more.................... (notes how *FAST, FAST, FAST* she's drumming at 0:11).......... welp....yup... I lost count, but that's how much I love her! :') ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
I raised my grandson from the time he was 10. I played the Carpenters sometimes and told him I appreciated them and why. By the time he was 16, he was a guitar punk rocker at home, though a trumpet player in the award winning marching band at his high school. He has a wide, cultivated good taste in music though. Anyway, one afternoon he came home from the thrift store. He proudly showed me the Carpenters Gold LP on vinyl. I thought, "Aww, how nice, he bought me a present." I asked him who he bought it for. He said, "Me, Nanna, I love the Carpenters." I have some videos up of him playing trumpet with his marching band, solo and the pep band. If you only watch one, watch the interview with Jenison Marching Band kids. He is the cutie with the honey brown hair and trumpet.
She looks the happiest when she played her Drums & she was a pro. See how the stars shine for you Karen... rip. ily
I had the honor of seeing Karen do that live in concert in St. Pete Florida in 1973 and I remember it to this day. Karen, your spirit has moved on, but your drums and your beautiful vocals will remain on this earth forever! Love you.
Awesome! This is too good. Especially "Johnny B. Goode" at 4:00. If anyone questions if Karen can rock the house down with another drummer, check it out, takes no prisoners. How can one individual be so talented? Just watched a 1971 Carpenters concert on You tube. Some songs Karen is drumming, not all. Think I can hear her thinking to herself as she is singing that she wished she was drumming on those songs as well. Understandable.
Lori Romano I saw the '71 concert too on RUclips! Great show. If you really love her singing, you should look up The Carpenters doing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina!" Sent shivers through my body listening to her unbelievably beautiful voice!
Wow dayum!!! She can play them drums! She's a badass at it!! God I love her! It hurts me to know that she died so young
FRED Sanchez-Hall what u mean the truth? I don't understand! Karen died from Anorexia and Elvis died from Drug overdose
FRED Sanchez-Hall u had a drug problem? I didn't know that, I'm so glad u was smart enough to get rid of it
FRED Sanchez-Hall u actually right, it's is a grace of God that u stopped! I'm so happy that u are still alive!!!! It would have been horrible if u didn't make it
FRED Sanchez-Hall thanks for saying I'm a kind person lol! I can see u singing young and beautiful to me
FRED Sanchez-Hall no I don't even know that song
I love the part at the end when she says "Isn't that fun?" LOL! she was amazing, MY FAVORITE singer nobody will ever replace her! LOVE YOU KAREN! :)
She was an incredible drummer; although I had no idea, while she was alive. It was very Sad to lose Karen ...
Karen was a favorite of Buddy Rich; she remains one of the greatest combo musicians in history, simply amazing talent.
Karen sounds damn good on the Carpenters' early records, when it was just her (check out the psychedelic freak-out drum solo vs. Richard on the keys at the end of "Another Song.") I don't know what Hal (or anyone at A&M) was talking about. The powers that be just wanted Karen out front, period (sadly for her). Buddy Rich himself even complimented Karen on her drumming skills.
A voice of pure gold and kicking butt on a big kit to boot!!!
I LOVE this lady, and I miss her greatly! It was the “Lead Sister” show that made me decide I wanted to learn how to play drums. I was in the fifth grade at that time, and I was being asked by my teachers which instrument I would like to learn to play. She made it look like a blast to do, and easy to do. But I must admit that in 1976 I wanted to BE Karen Carpenter!!
On the last clip she sounded like she was doing the solo part of "Frankenstein." The two drummer set up reminds me of Phil Collins and Chester Thompson in Genesis, freeing Phil to sing.
Not a power drummer like John Bonham or Sandy West, but an intricate technical drummer like Neil Peart. Truly incredible to watch. And, as others said, she definitely looked happiest when she was drumming. It was obviously her joy and calling.
42lookc .she is good, but Neil beart? now that IS something else alltogether. 😱
She is amazing, but I would say she came more from a Buddy Rich style with the kick, crossovers and snare. Not to mention that she preferred traditional method over match. Sign of the times I guess
I prefer drumming trad as well... I wish she was still around
42lookc I was just baby in 71 but I remember watching the Carpenters throughout the seventies but only with her standing and singing and never knew she could drum. Just the other day I watched their documentary here on RUclips just to learn more about them and I can honestly say that once they've pulled her from behind the drum set they destroyed her. What a terrible waste just because in that era girls playing drums was not lady like and not for females. I bet she would still be alive today if they didn't do that
Not a power drummer, but certainly a much better drummer on a bad day than Bonham was on his best and I am huge Bonham and Zeppelin fan. People seem to mistake power and loud for good.
The Budokan concert with Cubby O'Brien backing on drums was 1974. For the 1972 Australia concert, it was just her drumming (the 2nd drummer for that, Jim Anthony Squeglia, would move to bongos, tambourine, or whatever when Karen was drumming).
my favorite female singer, and my favorite female drummer, enough said
This is all so progressive! Really great stuff, and I think she's far more than a "pretty good" drummer.
+tacomadc You said it Taco!
She was a very special Angel
I never saw her in person but I sure do wish I had. God bless her.
And she was also a very talented musician :-)
It's only now and see How talented she was . A great voice and one heck of drummer.
drumming and singing got her out of her depression for that moment.. Bless her soul
What the fuck! Singing while drumming! So nice :D Shes so talented, i dont see any girls nowadays playing drum while singing, my god this is incredible
i sing while drumming . also sing while playing guitar or bass ... meanwhile . how many boys do you see doing it?
Karen looked her happiest when she was behind the drums... and so did Richard, in my opinion. (Lady K kicked ass, no? I mean, she rocked those skins!)
+Tommiegirl G She rocked everything Tommiegirl, amazing, amazing woman, that's our Lead Sister!
Definitely NO DOUBT !
Tommiegirl, I totally agree!
apparently the best female drummer of her time!
fourteen of all times! what other lady drummer--this good to-do you know?
Was sooo sad when I heard she's passed. Miss that sultry voice and of course her drumming!
She's wonderful!