We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about the Carpenters, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the singer and musician that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: Karen Had a Strained Relationship With Her Mother. Though many people would have described Karen as caring and fun-loving, she struggled to develop a healthy relationship with her mother. This may have led to her later personal problems in life.
Number Seven: Karen’s Favorite Carpenters Song Was…. Karen loved their 1976 song, “I Need to Be in Love.” The song is very directly related to her life, as she spent much of her life trying and failing to find love.
Number Six: Karen Lived at Home Until She Was 26. After their family moved to Downey, California, Karen lived at home until she was 26 years old. It was there in that same home that she died of cardiac arrest in 1983. She was anorexic, which is what led to her cardiac arrest, and she was 33 years old when she died.
Number Five: They Named Their Apartments. After Karen and Richard became successful as a duo, they each bought an apartment building, and they named them. They called the buildings “Close to You,” and “Only Just Begun,” after two of their hit songs.
Number Four: Their Family Began the Karen A. Carpenter Memorial Foundation. Though it is now called The Carpenter Family Foundation, Karen’s parents founded the foundation as a way to raise money for research surrounding anorexia. Now, the foundation also supports the arts and education.
Number Three: Their Is No “The” in Their Name. Though many people mistakenly call their group “The Carpenters,” they are actually just called “Carpenters.” They thought it sounded “hipper.”
Number Two: They Took a Brief Hiatus. Richard became addicted to quaaludes and took a year off from performing to attend rehabilitation. Karen neglected to treat her anorexia and instead pursued a solo album during this time.
Number One: Richard Married His Cousin. In 1984, Richard married his first cousin, Mary Rudolph. They have five children together.