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 Now he is telling the story his
way for the first time in "Carpenters: The
Musical Legacy," a book based on hundreds of
hours of interviews Richard gave to authors Mike
Cidoni Lennox and Chris May. Crammed with
photos, posters, programs, reviews and work
schedules, it is intended as the definitive
story of the 1970s recording stars.
"It covers really from our childhood all the way
through our years together, Karen and I, making
music, and the legacy. It concentrates more on
the music that we made than the personal," said
Carpenter from his home near Los Angeles that is
packed with gold discs and Carpenters
memorabilia.
"Many times, right from the time that Karen and
I first hit with 'Close to You,' there was so
many beyond nasty, vicious things written about
us," said Carpenter, 75, recalling how the music
press derided their mellow ballads as square at
a time when rock was the dominant force.
After their breakout single "(They Long to Be)
Close to You" in 1970, the Carpenters had a run
of hits including "Top of the World" and "Rainy
Days and Mondays," won three Grammy Awards and
had their own TV show. They turned out 10
albums, winning fans as far afield as Japan,
Norway and Zimbabwe.
Their career came to a tragic end when Karen
died in 1983 of heart failure attributed to
complications from anorexia nervosa. She was 32.
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 Richard Carpenter, who did all
the musical arrangements and harmonies, is
reluctant to dwell on Karen's death and prefers
to focus on her talent. "She
just had a timeless voice, ... Karen was a
natural. She didn't have to practice, ... she
just sang instantly, impeccably whether it was
live or on record," he said. "She was my sister,
she was my professional partner, and she was my
best friend."
The book will be published on Nov. 16.
It will be followed in January by a new album,
"Richard Carpenter's Piano Songbook" in which
Carpenter plays classical arrangements on solo
piano of some of the duo's hits.
Carpenter, who once had dreams of being a
concert pianist but hated practicing, said he
was "immensely flattered" to be asked to make
the record.
"My parents would have been beside themselves,"
he said.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Richard
Chang)
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