The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen (1950-1983) and Richard Carpenter (b. 1946). They produced a distinct soft musical style, combining Karen's contralto vocals with Richard's harmonizing, arranging and composition skills. During their 14-year career, the Carpenters recorded ten albums, along with numerous singles and several television specials.

With songs such as "We've Only Just Begun", "Yesterday Once More", "Goodbye to Love" and others, the public caught on immediately. The Carpenters became one of the top-selling American artists of the 1970s. They had three number-one singles and five number-two singles on the Billboard Hot 100.

Though the Carpenters were criticized for their clean-cut and wholesome image, their music has since been re-evaluated, attracting critical acclaim and continued commercial success. Some 50 years on, the Carpenters remain among the best-selling legacy acts worldwide. They have sold more than 90 million records worldwide.

Their career together ended in 1983 when Karen died from heart failure brought on by complications of anorexia. Extensive news coverage surrounding these circumstances increased public awareness of eating disorders.

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