In the summer of 1966, Karen signed to Magic Lamp Records and recorded a single. Accompanied by Richard playing keyboard, and Joe Osborn on bass, the song was pressed as a 35 rpm. Joe Osborn, a prominent session bassist in the Los Angeles area and owner of the small record label Magic Lamp, discovered talent in 16-year-old Karen. They recorded “Looking for Love,” a song Richard had written. The Magic Lamp 45 rpm was unsuccessful then, but if you find one today, it’s a collectible worth up to $2,500. Just 500 copies were pressed.
Though Richard was most serious about a career in music, supported by his parents whose hopeful anticipation influenced them to move out to the Southern California area, in part, to advance his career; and though his musical talents contributed prominently to the recording, only Karen’s name appears on the record label and the recording contract. But it was the blossoming of their famous recordings to come. The record caught the ear of Herb Alpert, head of A&M records.
The Stillman Diet
Born Karen Anne Carpenter on March 2, 1950, Karen graduated from Downey High School in 1967 when she was just 17 years old. In high school, she honed her drumming skills and started discovering her vocal talents.
Finishing up high school and getting into showbiz, body image was becoming an important issue for the young performer. At 5-foot-4 and 145 pounds, she started dieting. She used a weight loss program called the Stillman diet, which consisted of lean meats and consuming at least eight glasses of water per day. After some time, she lowered her body weight to 120 pounds. Karen looked healthy and felt quite pleased with her new appearance.
The Richard Carpenter Trio
Karen was still in high school when they formed The Richard Carpenter Trio. With her impressive drumming, Wes Jacobs’ tuba, and Richard’s musical gifts, the band played professionally at events like weddings and dances. They became so good that they entered the Battle of the Bands contest at the Hollywood Bowl in June 1966.
Winning the finals at the prominent talent show and taking top honors, RCA soon approached the trio. Richard, Karen, and Wes signed with the record company. After recording 11 tracks, a commercial release didn’t pan out. It would be the beginning of the siblings’ shared career in music.
A Disney Rebellion
At college, Richard also met a songwriter named John Bettis. With Karen, the three formed the group 'Spectrum' with Bettis on guitar, Gary Sims on guitar, Dan Woodhams playing bass, and vocalist Leslie Johnston. It was their second band after the Richard Carpenter Trio dissolved. In Spectrum’s early, formative days, it was great news when Disneyland hired Richard and Bettis to play at the park.
They were booked to perform turn of the 20th century Dixieland jazz tunes, the same tunes that Richard and Karen loved as children. All went well until park patrons began requesting popular music songs. During the height of hippie music, they took requests like “Light My Fire” by the Doors, a somewhat controversial tune then, and were fired for it. Victor Guder dismissed the young musicians for being “too radical.” With indignation, Richard and his bandmate wrote a song called “Mr. Guder” in response.
Offering a “Ticket to Ride”
Though 'Spectrum' had a regular gig at the famous Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood and had even opened for the young Steppenwolf, by 1968, the group disbanded. This left Karen and Richard to form a duo and become the massive success called the Carpenters. In 1969, they signed a recording contract with A&M. Karen, who was 19 at the time, was required to have a parent co-sign.
Their first single was a beautiful, melancholic ballad rendition of the Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride.” Hitting No. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100, it didn't stop Paul McCartney from calling Karen’s vocals, “the best female voice in the world: melodic, tuneful and distinctive.” The duo called the album Offering. It was released on October 9, 1969, to positive reception. One Billboard critic said, “With radio programming support, Carpenters should have a big hit on their hands.”