Which instrument did Karen Carpenter play in The Carpenters before becoming lead singer?

Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer, and part of the duo the Carpenters with her brother Richard. She was critically acclaimed for her contralto vocals, and her drumming was praised by contemporary musicians and peers.

Carpenter was born in New Haven, Connecticut and moved to Downey, California in 1963 with her family. She began to study the drums in High School, and upon graduation, joined the Long Beach State choir. After several years of touring and recording, the Carpenters were signed in 1969 and achieved commercial and critical success throughout the 1970s. Initially, Carpenter was the band's full-time drummer, but gradually took the role of frontwoman as drumming was reduced to a handful of live showcases or tracks on albums. While the Carpenters were on hiatus in the late 1970s, she recorded a solo album, which was never released during her lifetime.

Carpenter suffered from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, which was little known at the time, and was briefly married in the early 1980s. She died at age 32 from heart failure caused by complications related to her illness, and her death led to increased visibility and awareness of eating disorders. Her work continues to attract praise, including being listed in Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers of all time.