It's true that I usually blog about under rated artists, and who is more under rated than a working class girl who happens to come home from work and pour her heart out in beautiful songs, she can sound like Karen Carpenter, and she can sound like Patsy Cline, she is quite the youtube celebrity, with her smooth, sexy voice, and looks, she is sure to go far, best wishes to songtruth from peoplepaytribute.blogspot.com
She does cover versions of popular songs, well, I've got some advice, songtruth, get your own song, and you will probably have a record deal in a week lol, here she is, the lovely songtruth, maybe she will stop by and leave us a comment, I am thrilled to have found someone living who sings like Patsy Cline and Karen Carpenter, I usually don't do this, but I was blown away by her voice
Remeber us when you hit the big time
to hear more from songtruth, visit youtube.com/songtruth
Crying
Guitar Man
Annie's Song, she sure gives John Denver a run for his money
Rainy Days And Mondays
I Need To Be In Love
We're back and running, I don't know if anyone missed this page or not, but I am now updating again, for the first time in many months, I am trying to make sure that all my video links are working, and that fun stuff, and I am adding some new people to my page, so check back often
In the process of being updated ( finally ) please be patient , unfortunately, I can no longer offer free streaming songs from the people that the blog is about, it just takes to long to upload, and they get deleted too soon, sorry, but here is what I will do, I will upload songs by one artist each month, I will call it " Artist of the month " and, that month, I will make sure that there are songs by that artist up and running, after the month is up, I will not delete the songs, but I will stop re-uploading them, and they will all eventually get deleted, but this way, it's more fun than not having any music at all, and still not as time consuming that way
Welcome to people pay tribute, as you may have guessed, this is a tribute page, to not only one, but many people , many of the people on my page don't even have decent official websites with information, you will find a lot of information here, I have the best of all worlds Video, Audio, and Info, Enjoy!!!
Have A Great Summer
Loretta Lynn, current artist of the month !!! New Loretta Lynn Tribute ( June 14, 2008 )
Dottie West Tribute Coming soon
Here is a video of Country Sunshine by Dottie, sorry, that's all for now
SongTruth is one of many youtube bloggers, the only difference is that she has something special, that the others don't, it's called talent ( the rest of you should look that word up in the dictionary haha ) She left a comment on the main page, wich was very nice, I copied her comment over to this page, let's hope that she soon sees that she has her own page here now
Here is what she has to say about herself from her youtube profile
" My name, songtruth, has to do with connecting emotionally to the songs I sing; finding the emotional truth in them. I hope these songs connect with you, too.Thank you to all of my wonderful subscribers and to everyone who has stopped by my channel and offered their support with great comments and ratings and messages. I can't thank you enough. Your support means the world to me. "
Isn't she sweet as pie, and cute as puppies
It's true that I usually blog about under rated artists, and who is more under rated than a working class girl who happens to come home from work and pour her heart out in beautiful songs, she can sound like Karen Carpenter, and she can sound like Patsy Cline, she is quite the youtube celebrity, with her smooth, sexy voice, and looks, she is sure to go far, best wishes to songtruth from peoplepaytribute.blogspot.com
She does cover versions of popular songs, well, I've got some advice, songtruth, get your own song, and you will probably have a record deal in a week lol, here she is, the lovely songtruth, maybe she will stop by and leave us a comment, I am thrilled to have found someone living who sings like Patsy Cline and Karen Carpenter, I usually don't do this, but I was blown away by her voice Remeber us when you hit the big time to hear more from songtruth, visit youtube.com/songtruth
Crying
Guitar Man
Annie's Song, she sure gives John Denver a run for his money
Rainy Days And Mondays
I Need To Be In Love
So, as far as I can figure, all that she needs is a little publicity, and she should be on her way to the recording studio, I think that " songtruth " needs an official website with some songs of her singing, and she would benefit from it greatly
Loretta Lynn, from the moment that I made this page, it was pretty much a given that I would eventually make a tribute to Loretta, she is my all time favorite country singer, she has such a beautiful voice, she sings any kind of song you could want, she sings sad songs, and happy songs, breakup songs, and love songs, songs for sticking by your cheater of a spouse, and the occasional gospel tune, this lady has done it all, and is still not done doing more, Loretta's last album Van Lear Rose from 2004 was critically acclaimed best seller, it is awesome, you should check it out, she is currently in the process of recording a new album that is a retrospect, she is said to be recording both, new songs, and some of her past hits, I tell you one thing, it's Loretta, it will be great What is so special about Loretta, aside from her singing, is that she is a true Country legend, she has seen it all and done it all, but she is still just as humble, and nice of a person, she is the same Loretta that she has always been, and that is why all of us love her so much
Today, I am paying tribute to Loretta Lynn, a living legend, Loretta is pretty much the mother of country music, she has seen it through hevery change that it has made, and has adapted to every change it has made, she is still as wonderful today as she was nearly 50 years ago when she started
Loretta Lynn is one of the classic country singers. During the '60s and '70s, she ruled the charts, racking up over 70 hits as a solo artist and a duet partner. Lynn helped forge the way for strong, independent women in country music. As her song
(and movie and book) says, Loretta Lynn is a coal miner's daughter, born in Butcher Hollow, KY, in 1934. As a child, she sang in church and a variety of local concerts. In January 1948, she married Oliver "Mooney" Lynn. She was 13 years old at the time. Following their marriage, the couple moved to Custer, WA, where they raised four children. After a decade of motherhood, Lynn began performing her own songs in local clubs, backed by a band led by her brother, Jay Lee Webb. It took her a decade of gigging before she was noticed by a record label. In 1959, she signed a contract with Zero Records, which released her debut single, "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl," in 1960. The honky tonk ballad became a hit thanks to the insistent, independent promotion of Lynn and her husband. The pair would drive from one radio station to the next, getting the DJs to play her single, and sent out thousands of copies to stations. All of the effort paid off -- the single reached number 14 on the charts and attracted the attention of the Wilburn Brothers. The Wilburns hired Lynn to tour with them in 1960 and advised her to relocate to Nashville. She followed their advice and moved to the city in late 1960. After she arrived in Nashville, she signed with Decca Records. At Decca, she would work with Owen Bradley, who had produced Patsy Cline.
Lynn released her first Decca single, "Success," in 1962 and it went straight to number six, beginning a string of Top Ten singles that would run through the rest of the decade and throughout the next. She was a hard honky tonk singer for the first half of the '60s and rarely strayed from the genre. Although she still worked within the confines of honky tonk in the latter half of the decade, her sound became more personal, varied and ambitious, particularly lyrically. Beginning with 1966's number two hit "You Ain't Woman Enough," Lynn began writing songs that had a feminist viewpoint, which was unheard of in country music. Her lyrical stance became more autobiographical and realistic as time wore on, highlighted by such hits as "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)" (1966), "Your Squaw Is on the Warpath" (1968), "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)" (1969), and a tune about birth control called "The Pill" (1974).
Between 1966 and 1970, Loretta Lynn racked up 13 Top Ten hits, including four number one hits -- "Don't Come Home A'Drinkin'," "Fist City" (1968), "Woman of the World," and the autobiographical "Coal Miner's Daughter." In 1971, she began a professional partnership with Conway Twitty. As a duo, Lynn and Twitty had five consecutive number one hits between 1971 and 1975 -- "After the Fire Is Gone" (1971), "Lead Me On" (1971), "Lousiana Woman, Mississippi Man" (1973), "As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone" (1974), and "Feelins'" (1974). The hit-streak kick-started what would become one of the most successful duos of country history. For four consecutive years (1972-1975), Lynn and Twitty were named the Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association. In addition to their five number one singles, they had seven other Top Ten hits between 1976 and 1981.
Loretta Lynn published her autobiography, Coal Miner's Daughter, in the mid-'70s. In 1980, the book was adapted for the screen, with Sissy Spacek as Lynn. The film was one of the most critically acclaimed and successful films of the year and Spacek would win the Academy Award for her performance. All of the attention surrounding the movie made Loretta Lynn a household name with the American mainstream. Although she continued to be a popular concert attraction throughout the '80s, she wasn't able to continue her domination of the country charts. "I Lie," her last Top Ten single, arrived in early 1982, while her last Top 40 single, "Heart Don't Do This to Me," was in 1985. In light of her declining record sales, Lynn backed away from recording frequently during the late '80s and '90s, concentrating on performing instead. In 1993, she recorded the Honky Tonk Angels album with Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton. Still Woman Enough was released in mid-2000. Van Lear Rose, a critically acclaimed project produced by the White Stripes' Jack White, was a best-seller in 2004.
Your Cheatin' Heart
Pregnant Again
Loretta Lynn for Crisco ( Loretta was the spokes woman for Crisco during the 1980s )
Better Get To Livin' A wonderful new single from her album Backwoods Barbie
Ah, good old Dolly, the first of the wonderfully talented stars on my page to be still living, Dolly Parton is one of the greatest ( underrated ) country stars, she has over 70 albums, I will eventually get a complete discography. Dolly has basically bade herself the but of every joke involving plastic surgery, and brest implants, wich is a shame, because she is one heck of a songwritter, and an even better performer, from her beautiful love songs, patriotic, and some beautiful religious songs, it is a shame that she has made herself such a joke, she said herself in one interview, that when she was first getting started that she fhasioned herself after the hookers from her home town, because they were the only ones that she thought were attractive.
Dolly is much more than a breast implant job, you have not heard music untill you have heard her hits such as Love Is Like A Butterfly, Coat Of Many Colors, and My Tennessee Mountain Home, such beautiful songs.
Biography Born on Jan. 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tenn., into a poor family that would eventually include 12 children, Dolly Parton learned early to escape the hardships of life through her vivid and far-ranging imagination. Before she learned to read and write, she was "making up" her own songs. She got her first guitar when she was 8 and began singing on a Knoxville, Tenn., radio station at age 11. That same year, she made her first recording on Gold Band Records, a tiny independent label. She made a name for herself locally while still in high school, but she dreamed of a bigger stage. The day after she graduated in 1964, she moved to Nashville. Her first charting records on Monument Records included "Dumb Blonde" and "Something Fishy," both in 1967. At about this time, Porter Wagoner was looking for a new "girl singer" for his syndicated television show. Parton accepted the job in 1967, signed with RCA Records in 1968 and joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. However, she left Wagoner's show in 1974, as her solo releases -- such as "Joshua," "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene" -- were out-charting their collaborations. After their split, Parton wrote the song "I Will Always Love You" for Wagoner, and it reached No. 1 for the first time in 1974. As a solo artist, Parton also snared the CMA's female vocalist award in 1975 and 1976 and won the entertainer trophy in 1978. Still, her TV variety series lasted only one season, in 1976. Her musical style grew closer to pop music, but fans responded as "Here You Come Again" spent five weeks at No. 1 in 1978. She also grew more interested in movies, starring in 1980's 9 to 5 -- the title song earned her an Oscar nomination -- and 1982's Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Taken from the Whorehouse soundtrack, "I Will Always Love You" reached No. 1 again in 1982. A Bee Gees-written duet with Kenny Rogers, "Islands in the Stream," topped the country charts in 1983. Parton returned to her acoustic roots when she recorded the 1987 landmark album Trio with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Four of its singles reached the Top 10, and "To Know Him Is To Love Him" reached No. 1. After signing to Columbia Records, she returned to No. 1 as a solo artist in 1989 with "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That." That same year, she starred in the hit movie Steel Magnolias with Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Julia Roberts. A 1991 duet with Ricky Van Shelton, "Rockin' Years," reached No. 1 in 1991, but Parton's greatest commercial fortune of the decade -- and probably of all-time -- came when Whitney Houston recorded "I Will Always Love You" for The Bodyguard soundtrack, and both the single and the album were massively successful. In 1993, she recorded the album Honky Tonk Angels with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. Parton re-recorded "I Will Always Love You" with Vince Gill, and they won a CMA award for vocal event in 1996. Taken from the album Trio II, a cover of "After the Gold Rush" won a Grammy for best country collaboration with vocals in 1999, and Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later that year. However, she was frustrated by her fruitless attempts to secure a solo hit single in the 1990s. Instead, she teamed with respected independent label Sugar Hill Records and offered the back-to-basics acoustic album The Grass Is Blue in 1999. An instant favorite among critics and longtime fans, it won the International Bluegrass Music Association's album of the year and a Grammy for best bluegrass album. She followed it with Little Sparrow in 2001 and Halos & Horns in 2002. The patriotic For God and Country appeared in 2003 and was followed by the CD and DVD Live and Well a year later. Those Were the Days from 2005 found Parton covering her favorite pop songs from the '60s and '70s. In 2006, she earned her second Oscar nomination for "Travelin' Thru," which she wrote specifically for the film Transamerica. She also returned to No. 1 on the country charts later that year by lending her distinctive harmonies to the Brad Paisley ballad, "When I Get Where I'm Going." Parton also changed the landscape of her Tennessee stomping grounds when she opened the Dollywood theme park in 1985. It remains among the most popular vacation destinations in the South. She has also donated more than 1 million books to pre-school children across the United States and provides scholarships to high school students in Sevier County, Tenn. In return, the county honored her with a life-size statue in front of the courthouse.
Discography ( look how long, do you think that she needs to record anything ever again )
Hello, I'm Dolly :Dolly Parton Monument February 1967 Just Between You And Me: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor January 1968 Just Because I'm A Woman: Dolly Parton RCA Victor April 1968 Just The Two Of Us :Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor September 1968 In The Good Old Days: Dolly Parton RCA Victor February 1969 Always, Always: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor July 1969 My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy: Dolly Parton RCA Victor September 1969 The Fairest Of Them All: Dolly Parton RCA Victor February 1970 Porter Wayne and Dolly Rebecca: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor March 1970 As Long As I Love: Dolly Parton Monument April 1970 A Real Live Dolly: Dolly Parton RCA Victor July 1970 Once More: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor August 1970 The Best Of Dolly Parton: Dolly Parton RCA Victor November 1970 Golden Streets Of Glory: Dolly Parton RCA Victor February 1971 Two Of A Kind :Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor February 1971 Joshua :Dolly Parton RCA Victor April 1971 The Best Of Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton :Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor July 1971 Coat Of Many Colors: Dolly Parton RCA Victor October 1971 The World Of Dolly Parton: (2-Record Set) Dolly Parton Monument 1972 The Right Combination: Burning The Midnight Oil: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor January 1972 Touch Your Woman: Dolly Parton RCA Victor March 1972 Together Always: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor September 1972 Just The Way I Am: Dolly Parton RCA Camden October 1972 Dolly Parton Sings, My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner: Dolly Parton RCA Victor October 1972 We Found It: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor February 1973 My Tennessee Mountain Home: Dolly Parton RCA Victor March 1973 Love And Music: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor July 1973 Bubbling Over: Dolly Parton RCA Victor September 1973 Mine: Dolly Parton RCA Camden October 1973 Jolene: Dolly Parton RCA Victor February 1974 Porter 'N' Dolly: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor May 1974 Love Is Like A Butterfly: Dolly Parton RCA Victor September 1974 The Bargain Store: Dolly Parton RCA Victor February 1975 The Best Of Dolly Parton: Dolly Parton RCA Victor July 1975 Say Forever You'll Be Mine: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor August 1975 Dolly: The Seeker & We Used To: Dolly Parton RCA Victor September 1975 All I Can Do: Dolly Parton RCA Victor August 1976 You Are (UK): Dolly Parton RCA International 1977 New Harvest-First Gathering: Dolly Parton RCA Victor February 1977 Here You Come Again: Dolly Parton RCA Victor October 1977 Heartbreaker: Dolly Parton RCA Victor July 1978 Great Balls Of Fire: Dolly Parton RCA Victor May 1979 Dolly, Dolly, Dolly: Dolly Parton RCA Victor April 1980 Porter & Dolly: Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner RCA Victor June 1980 9 To 5 (And Odd Jobs): Dolly Parton RCA Victor November 1980 Heartbreak Express: Dolly Parton RCA Victor April 1982 The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas: (Soundtrack) Various Artists MCA Records July 1982 Dolly Parton's Greatest Hits: Dolly Parton RCA Victor October 1982 Burlap And Satin: Dolly Parton RCA Victor May 1983 The Great Pretender: Dolly Parton RCA Victor January 1984 Rhinestone: (Soundtrack) Various Artists RCA Victor May 1984 Once Upon A Christmas: Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers RCA Victor December 1984 Real Love: Dolly Parton RCA Victor February 1985 Dolly Parton (Collectors Series): Dolly Parton RCA Victor 1985 Think About Love: Dolly Parton RCA Victor March 1986 Trio: Dolly Parton/Emmylou Harris/Linda Ronstadt Warner Brothers February 1987 Rainbow: Dolly Parton CBS Records November 1987 White Limozeen: Dolly Parton CBS Records May 1989 Home For Christmas: Dolly Parton CBS Records September 1990 Eagle When She Flies: Dolly Parton Sony (CBS) March 1991 Straight Talk: (Soundtrack) Dolly Parton Hollywood Records March 1992 Slow Dancing With The Moon: Dolly Parton Columbia/Sony February 1993 Honky Tonk Angels: Dolly Parton/Loretta Lynn/Tammy Wynette Columbia November 1994 Heartsongs: Live From Home: Dolly Parton Columbia September 1994 Something Special: Dolly Parton Columbia 1995 Treasures: Dolly Parton Rising Tide September 1996 Hungry Again: Dolly Parton Decca Records & Blue Eye Records August 25, 1998 Trio II: Dolly Parton/Emmylou Harris/Linda Ronstadt Asylum Records February 9, 1999 Precious Memories: Dolly Parton Blue Eye Records April 17, 1999 The Grass Is Blue: Dolly Parton Sugar Hill Records October 26, 1999 Little Sparrow: Dolly Parton Sugar Hill Records January 23, 2001 Halos & Horns: Dolly Parton Sugar Hill Records July 9, 2002 Ultimate Dolly Parton: Dolly Parton BMG/RCA June 3, 2003 Just Because I'm A Woman: Various Artists Sugar Hill Records October 14, 2003 For God & Country: Dolly Parton Welk Music Group November 11, 2003 Live & Well: Dolly Parton Sugar Hill Records September 14, 2004 Those Were The Days: Dolly Parton Sugar Hill Records October 11, 2005
I Could GoOn Forever, and ever talking about this wonderful Woman, and 1,000,000 days and 1,000,000 nights is not enough to listen to her, the voice of miss Karen Anne Carpenter is forever green, her simple message of love, happiness, kindness, and gentlesness, her love of Christmas, and Children, and love of God, they can all be heard through her simple songs with her awesome voice, her voice will echo throughout the universe for all eternity, of course it will, she is safe in the arms of God, she is truly " ON TOP OF THE WORLD, LOOKING DOWN ON CREATION " now, she was a beautiful person, and a beautiful soul, she lived a basically happy life despite what most documentaries and articles say, the only one who has said it are Richard and his family, and that is enough for me, you never believe those crummy tabloids, yes, Karen was sick, and I am sure that she had her moments of tears just like any other human being, moments of dobut and sorrow, but Karen loved life, she loved Children, and she loved the Lord, I am not saying that she was perfect, but she was a very good person, I think that her painfully short life was filled with more love and kindness than any of us who could live to be 100, she gave so much and asked so little, she was kind to everybody, and a friend to everybody, she indeed knew the secret of life, perhaps this is why her life was so short, life is not measured in the years of living that you have done, but the amount of living that you did in those years, Karen did a ton of living, more than any of us could hope to, she saw the world, and she found a permanent home in the hearts of millions, her time here was short, but the amount of living that she did was not, so don't feel sad or cry for her, she didn't want that, she wanted to be remembered as a good person, and indeed she is, she is where I turn to when I am both happy and sad, this page is dedicated to this wonderful woman that I have been speaking of, and to keeping her memory alive, so many people should know about this incredible woman with such an incredible voice that has such abilities for reaching through the boundaries of time, to be so comforting, the reasong that Karen sounds so sincere and sweet in her song, is because she is, and she truly is A Star On Earth, and A Star In Heaven, this is for you Karen
From Newsletter 1971 It was bound to happened sometime, and it did in Las Vegas. The opening act was finished, the M.C. announced "Ladies & Gentlemen - The Carpenters," the drum roll had commenced, and there stood Richard on stage - WITHOUT KAREN!! She was still in her dressing room unaware that it was curtain time. There were no monitors, and nobody had warned her. Needless to say, it was an astronomical event, Karen who flew on stage to sing the opening number which hilariously enough was Help.
The voice of an Angel !!!
Karen Anne Carpenter
A few nice quotes people have made reffering to Karen
" Some say Karen was gone to soon, but Karen was a lady, and a lady always knows the proper time to leave, without wearing out her welcome"
What we love, we shall grow to resemble. What Karen loved she has indeed come to resemble, until Karen herself has become a song to the world; yes, Karen's life itself, a song to the world: a song of love and joy and beauty.
Our Karen is still But her echo Will linger Forever...
Karen Carpenter, so much beautiful music comes to mind upon hearing that name, SO much music, and so much magic.
Mini Biography
Karen Anne Carpenter, born March 2, 1950 in New Haven Connecticut to Harold and Agnus Carpenter, Karen was not much interrested in music when she was younger, while Richard sat and listened to records in the basement, Karen was out playing baseball (She liked to pitch ) although, she did enjoy listening to all kinds of music, It was not untill the Carpenter family moved to Downey California in the early 1960's ( I believe it may have been 1964, because Karen was 14 I think ) that Karen developed a love for music, I think it was when she was 15 ( 1965 ) that Karen just decided that she wanted to take marching band, to avoid gym, and Choral to avoid Geometry. Karen fell in love with the drums immediately, she taught herself how to play on pots and pans, then asked for a set of Ludwig drums, her parents were kinda thinking that she woulden't stick to it and were kinda skeptical, Richard told them " get her the Ludwigs, in 2 weeks when she's dosen't want them anymore you can get a bigger trade in on them " Karen did stick to them, infact the moment that she got them, she actually knew how to play ( her playong pots and pans payed off ) I find this amazing, that is real talent, she kept on playing for so long and so much that Agnus ( Karen's Mom ) said that she had to keep a box of bandaids handy because Karen would play untill her hands bled, and still woulden't stop. I believe the year was 1966 when Karen and Richard started trying to perform profesionally, they started out as a jaz trio ( Richard Carpenter Trio ) then later went rock, and called themselves the Spectrums. They recorded several songs, and took tapes and presented them to many record companies, most of wich totally did not dig their sounds, it wasen't hip enough, one label thought that they had some talent, but wanted them to change their style, neither Karen or Richard considered this for a moment. after several years of struggling, they finally signed with A&M records in April of 1969 ( a tape found its way to the desk of A&M executive Herb Alpert who said " it was love at first listen " he liked the way that they presented her voice, he said that it jumps right out at you. "the first album was a half flop, half Hit" Karen said to an interviewer, It was a hit in other counteries, but not here. July 1970 they had their first hit Close To You, and from that point untill about 1976 their albums were going like hot Cakes, they struggled for the next 3 years, people didn't like their clean cut image, Karen told a reporter" we have an image that Mickey Mouse coulden't live up to" they got a new manager somewhere in 1976 and he wanted to take a fresh approach to there popularity, and shot 5 television specials through the years
1) The First Special 1976 50 minutes Guest Starring: John Denver & Victor Borge.
2) The Carpenters At Christmas 1977 50 minutes. Guest Starring: Kristy MacNichol & Harvey Korman
3) Space Encounters 1978 50 minutes. Guest Starring: Suzanne Sommers, John Davidson, and Charlie Calas ( This was most certainly there strangest special, but deffinetly the most entertaining, unlike others, this had sort of a plot, The Carpenter's are in the studio recording an album, when an alien beams down and asks them to help them make music, this is full of all kinds of fun little stuff, the hustle, square dance with disco beat, and all kinds of funny stuff, this was kind of a spoof on star wars, and star trek.
4) Christmas Portrait 1978 50 minutes. Guest Starring: Gene Kelley, Jimmy & Kristy MacNichol, and Georgia Engel ( they did 2 Christmas specials, both of wich have went down as classic Christmas traditions as well as the 2 Christmas albums )
5) Music Music Music 1980 50 minutes Guest Starring: Ella Fitzgerald and John Davidson. The Carpenters did many television specials through the years, none as classy as this, Richard liked this because there were no jokes, it was just them, and a few friends singing
Despite the thin list of original specials, they appeared on hundreds of other shows, Carol Burnette 2 times, tonight show, the Dating game, Don Knotts show, Ed Suliven, Andy WIlliams show, This is your life, Johnny Cash show, Jerry Dumphy visits the Carpenters, Tom Jones London Bridges special, Bob Hope special, Perry Como, Dorthy Hamill,Olivia Newton John Hollywood Nights, Good Morning America, Sesamme Street, the Mupets,Live At The White House, and so many countless others through the years
These specials helped a little, but there albums still weren't selling as well as they used to so she went into the Studio in 1979 to record her Solo album, that had it been released when she wanted it was kind of her " Emancipation Proclamation " No, she didn't want to just sing about sex, but she was tired of her sexually unaware lyrics such as Top Of The World, and Sing, well actually she may not have been tired of them, she just wanted the public to view her as a human being, she was still singing love songs, just a little more exotic. For fear of the album flopping, and making fans mad, Karen and Richard decided to shelve the album in 1980, to go back to work on their next coming album Made In America, sadly this was to be their last Album released while Karen was still alive, Karen took off to get help for her anorexia several times, I think in 1979 and againg in 1982 She was officially CURED in 1982, but unfortianetly the damage had already been made to her heart, Karen died the Morning of February 4, 1983. Such a beautiful voice stilled forever, or so one would think, Karen lives on in her music, such beautiful arrangements, and vocals that Richard says " with todays sophisticated equipment, it is like Karen is right their " And thank God for that, her voice had such enormous amounts of talent, human feelings and happiness that the abilities to lift your spirits "have transcended even death" Richard said something of the sort on the official website. Karen was really beginning to pull her act together, she was cleaning her plate, and no longer addicted to laxitives " she never induced vomiting but resorted to laxitives" her doctors said The last words spoken between Karen and her mom ( who rarely spoke about feelings or stuff like that) were " I love you "
Karen's Solo album finally found its way to release in 1996, in the liner notes, they found that Karen had wrote " this album is dedicated to my brother Richard with all my heart " The thing about this is, upon this album's release, the Carpenter's records have been selling more than ever since about the time this album was released, Karen must have knew what she was doing.
But enough with the sad, time for a few random facts
Karen's favorite drink was iced tea
Karen's best friend was Olivia Newton John ( they filmed a special together in 1980) also among her friends were Suzanne Somers, Petula Clark, Ela Fitzgerald and many many others, Karen was everybodys friend, I think that Karen atleast thought her friendship with all these celebrities was genuine, I don't think that Karen cared much about status symbols, she just wanted to be a friend to everyone
Karen loved I Love Lucy
Karen's favorite colors were red and black
Karen was never fond of the song Superstar wich was one of their monster hits
Karen's door bell chimed the first 6 notes of We've Only Just Begun
Karen's favorite food was spaghetti, and was quite fond of shrimp
Karen only owned one car, unlike Richard who collects cars
Q. What does Karen do for voice warm-up's? A. Nothing
Karen went to see the movie E.T. with John Bettis, they both ended up crying in the end
Karen used to hang out in Richards bedroom when she stayed at her parents house because he had a VCR in his room
Karen's finest performence Kiss Me The Way You Did Last Night was not even released untill 1989
Karen collected Disney Land Memoribilia, she loved disney land, I think that's why she looks so happy in Please Mr Postman
Karen was a tomboy when she was younger, although she wasen't a tomboy in later years, she still talked like one, for instance when she added man to the end of sentences wich she did often, she told a reporter once about her meeting Petula Clark and she was just like " OH MAN "
Karen's biggest hobbie is needlepoint
Karen never understood what the women in the woman's lib movement were complaining about, she loved to cook, and needlepoint Q. What are K's views on woman's lib? A. To quote Karen - "I'm happy and proud to be a woman - doing what I'm doing, I don't (have a) need to prove anything."
Karen loved music, but had very few albums, she did most of her listening on the Car Radio
Karen and Richard on many occasions had baseball, and football games while on tour, and did it for charity
Karen had her hair permed most of the time to keep it the Curly wavy look that it was for most of her carrier exept for the early years
Q. Have either had any cavities? A. Karen, 3 or 4. Richard, none.
Q. Did Karen ever take dancing lessons? A. Yes, when she was four years old. She took tap, ballet and acrobatic dancing.
Q. What kind of car does Karen own? A. Unlike her brother, she owns only one. It is a Mercedes Benz 350 SL. (1972)
Q. Does Karen enjoy working any puzzles? A. Yes indeed. She is a crossword puzzle fan & enjoys working at them when time permits, such as during breakfast. There are several crossword books in her bathroom magazine rack, including a toilet roll of puzzles.
Q. Did Karen take Home Economics in school? A. Home Economics was a requirement in the Junior High School grades. She learned cooking and sewing. Now and then when time schedules permit Karen attends various gourmet cooking classes. She is an excellent cook and has a kitchen full of gadgets. A double oven, a microwave oven, a warming oven, and a barbecue custom built into her kitchen.
Q. Are Richard & Karen interested in the Olympics? A. Yes. When they are not at home when the Olympics are staged, they have Mom & Dad video-tape the programs, so they can watch them later.
Q. On which songs did Karen play bass? A. Eve and All of My Life on the Ticket to Ride album.
Q. What are some of their spare time activities? A. Watching TV, attending an occasional movie, shopping (Richard likes to shop for new albums), K likes to cook and bake and both like to listen to music. On nice days they enjoy motorcycle or bicycle riding. swimming or just plain relaxing poolside.
Q. Are Carpenters still the top selling artist of A & M Records? A. YES.
Q. Have Richard and Karen ever ridden horses? A. Richard wasn't interested, but Karen loves horses, and rode quite often while in high school.
Q. Is it true that Karen uses a machine to make her voice sound better and louder. A. No, all she has ever used is a microphone.
Q: Do Karen and Richard like outdoor sports? A: Yes, especially swimming and bike riding
Q: What made Karen sing? Did she realize she had such a great voice? A: No, she didn't. It was difficult to convince her. Her Mom and friends tried to tell her but she thought they were being kind. She finally gained confidence from choir work in college, and encouragement from choir director, Mr. Pooler.
Q: On your album--is anyone else singing besides you? A: Definitely not. The only voices you hear are Karen and Richard - even when it sounds like a choir!
The Carpenters had a hit Television show in 1970, " Make Your Own Kind Of Music" but they had to quit because it was taking away from them making their own kind of music, and they were loosing money in the show.
Karen's favorite songs was I Need To Be In Love, and Ave Maria
Karen loved Billy Joel, and recorded much of the Solo Recording Session (1979-1980) with his band, and producer Phil Ramone
Karen was being driven past the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles at the exact moment Robert Kennedy was shot.
With the first money they earned Karen and Richard invested in apartment buildings across from one another in Downey, and appropriately named them "Only Just Begun" and "Close To You".
In September 1972, President Nixon invited the Carpenters to the White House for a photo session where he presented Richard with a set of golf balls and cufflinks and Karen with a gold powder compact, all bearing the presidential seal. He proclaimed Richard and Karen publicly as "young America at its best".
When Karen recorded Rainy Days And Mondays she layed out pillows on the floor, and made herself comfortable, and recorded the entire song laying down, to get into the feel of the song.
On Her crypt is written A Star On Earth, A Star In Heaven ( great words to describe Karen)
Sometime during the late 1980's A Star In Heaven was ( a litteral star in the sky ) named Karen A Carpenter in honour of Karen
Karen Carpenter "quotes"
"It's kinda nice to be remembered by your peers and your fans, because you can achieve a lot of success and be a creep too! But we try to be nice, just normal people."
"Our first single, 'Ticket To Ride', was a kind of half-hit, half flop: in some places it was number one, in others it was ash-tray material.
"The image we have would be impossible for Mickey Mouse to maintain.We're just ... normal people."
"It's funny to think, no one listens to Carpenter's, too clean cut, their not "cool" but you know, somebody has to be buying our millions of albums that have sold"
"While Richard was listening to music in the basement, I was out playing baseball and football, and playing with my machine gun!I was very tomboyish, quite a character, I hear!"
"I enjoy money. Not enough people in this world are happy. I'm determined to be contented, and having plenty of money from working makes it easier for me."
( I think the things made of wood comment may have been a joke about her last name, but it may have been true, not sure about this one " Karen liked to kid around")
"For over half the years of my life, I have had a great passion for two pursuits; to craft and build things made of wood and to arrange and perform different styles of music. Both have provided me with great joy and fulfillment and I am grateful to God for the gifts and talents that He has entrusted to me."
"I remember thinking back then, 'Oh God, if we don't get a hit by the time I'm 20 I have to kill myself!' Well, we JUST made it, because it came out in late May, right after I turned 20,and within 6 weeks it was number one."
"We came out right in the middle of the hard-rock period... it was hard-rock everywhere! But we were ready to make our music, you know?And it was such a turn around, I guess it caught people by surprise."
DISCOGRAPHY
Ticket To Ride (Offering retitled and released as) Original Release: October 9, 1969 A&M Records
Close To You Original Release: August 19, 1970 A&M Records Carpenters Original Release: May 14, 1971 A&M Records A Song For You Original Release: June 22, 1972 A&M Records Now & Then Original Release: May 1, 1973 A&M Records
The Singles 1969-1973 Original Release: November 9, 1973 A&M Records Horizon Original Release: June 6, 1975 A&M Records A Kind Of Hush Original Release: June 11, 1976 A&M Records Passage Original Release: September 23, 1977 A&M Records Christmas Portrait Original Release: October 13, 1978 A&M Records Made In America Original Release: June 16, 1981 A&M Records Voice Of The Heart Original Release: October 18, 1983 A&M Records Richard Carpenter Time Original Release Date: Feb 6, 1989 CD (record was released October 1987) A&M records
Old-Fashioned Christmas Original Release: December 1, 1984 A&M Records
I want to live again, breathe again in the shelter of this brightly woven love song
Your guitar it sounds so sweet and clear, but your not really here, its just the radio Even at dawn, after I'm gone, life will go on,
someone's gotta take my place, running in the human race
You can have this dance with me, you can hold my hand and whisper in my ears sweet words that I want to hear, and my number is BEECHWOOD-45789 you can call me up for a date any old time
If you're feelin' happy, or if you wanna weep, you want a warm word before you sleep, friends are forever, good friends are for keeps ( Karen and Olivia 1979 colorized )
When My life is over, remember when we were together, we were alone and I was singing this song for you
Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery The BeWitching Elizabeth Montgomery advertising lux soap( canadian name for dove)
Elizabeth Montgomery feelin' GROOVY
Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery was born April 15, 1933 in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actor Robert Montgomery and stage actress Elizabeth Allen. Along with her younger brother, Skip (Robert, Jr., born 1936), Elizabeth had a privileged childhood, raised in Hollywood among the movie stars. Summers were spent at the Montgomerys' country house in New York state or in England. She attended the exclusive Westlake School for Girls where the daughters of affluent families were taught to be poised and ladylike young women. Her first acting role was at the age of five in a French language production of Little Red Riding Hood at the Westlake School; Elizabeth played the wolf. Elizabeth being held by her mother, 1933 In 1950, the family moved to New York where her father was just beginning his television series Robert Montgomery Presents. When the Montgomerys divorced in December of that year, Elizabeth first stayed in the family home with her mother, but subsequently moved in with her father and his second wife. Elizabeth entered the Spence School, another exclusive educational establishment and after graduating in 1951, enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Art to foster her theatrical aspirations. She made her television debut on her father's series in 1951, in an episode entitled Top Secret. She and her father portrayed father and daughter in the production. Her opening line to Montgomery; "Hi, Pop," caused her father to forget his lines. He later said it wasn't until then that he realized it was his daughter he was acting with. She received favorable reviews for her work and in 1952 was engaged as a member of the summer stock company on her father's show. Afraid that people would think she was merely riding on her father's coattails, Elizabeth casually suggested she might change her name, to which her father replied downheartedly, "What's the matter, you ashamed?" Her name remained the same and she continued to find employment on both television and the stage. Far from fawning over his daughter's accomplishments, Montgomery would send her notes critiquing her performances, especially ones he didn't like. She tried to follow his advise; " Like Daddy," Elizabeth said, "I try to be neat, concise in my work..."
In October of 1953, Elizabeth made her Broadway debut in the play Late Love. She had previously appeared in summer stock productions of Brigadoon and Biography. The play closed in January, 1954 and in March Elizabeth married Frederic Gallatin Cammann, a New York blue-blood who was expelled from the Social Register for marrying an actress. The marriage lasted scarcely a year, and on December 28, 1956 Elizabeth married actor Gig Young. This marriage was a turbulent one; Young, the star of such films as Come Fill the Cup, Teacher's Pet and They Shoot Horses Don't They?, was a chronic alcoholic and 23-year-old Elizabeth was at a loss as to how to handle the problem.
During the 1950's and early 1960's Elizabeth appeared in over 200 television shows including an Emmy-nominated performance in The Untouchables. In 1955 she made her feature film debut in The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell with Gary Cooper. But she was still essentially known as Robert Montgomery's daughter. But that was all about to change...
In 1963, at an audition for the feature film Johnny Cool Elizabeth met director William Asher whose credits included the ever-popular I Love Lucy. Elizabeth got the part and she and the director fell in love during the making of the film. Elizabeth flew to Mexico for a quickie divorce from Young and she and Asher were married in El Paso, Texas shortly after. Upon her third marriage Elizabeth expressed a desire to retire and start a family; Asher suggested that they could work together on a television series. This idea appealed to Elizabeth and Asher approached ABC with an idea for a sit-com about a rich girl, starring his new bride. ABC, however, already had the script for a television pilot by Sol Saks which they thought would be good for Elizabeth. After making a few changes to the script, Asher decided this was indeed the show for them. Bewitched was a fantasy-comedy loosely based on the feature films I Married a Witch and Bell, Book, and Candle which dealt with the problems that arise when a mortal man marries a beautiful witch. As her co-stars Elizabeth had Dick York as her mortal husband and veteran actress Agnes Moorehead as her trouble-making mother. During the filming of the pilot which took place in December of 1963, Elizabeth was pregnant with her first child; William Allen Asher was born on July 24, 1964, and filming for the series commenced in September of that year. Six days later the pilot was aired. Needless to say, Bewitched proved a huge success and enjoyed an eight-year run on ABC. Elizabeth's two subsequent pregnancies were incorporated into the storyline of the show; Robert Deverell Asher was born October 5, 1965 and Rebecca Elizabeth Asher on June 17, 1969. These coincided with the TV births of Tabatha and Adam Stephens, respectively.
In 1969, Dick York left the series due to illness; although the Ashers preferred to end the series rather than go on without York, the network offered them a deal they couldn't resist so they signed on for four more years and the show continued with Dick Sargent replacing York. In 1972 with the series and its star experiencing a bad case of burn-out, the show was ended a year earlier than planned. Now Elizabeth found herself out of work for the first time since she was 18; Asher continued with other television and film projects and Elizabeth traveled to Europe. By 1973 the Asher's ten-year marriage was over and they were divorced that year. After starring in the TV movie The Victim in 1972, Elizabeth returned to television in 1974 in the TV movie Mrs. Sundance. It was during the filming of Mrs. Sundance that she met actor Robert Foxworth and the two soon became a couple. Nervous about marrying for a fourth time, Elizabeth preferred that she and Foxworth simply live together. Also in 1974 she starred in the critically acclaimed TV movie A Case of Rape in which she portrayed a rape victim. In 1975 Elizabeth appeared in the title role in the TV movie The Legend of Lizzie Borden which has become a cult favorite. Most of her post-Bewitched roles were dramatic as opposed to comedic and her career in TV movies continued steadily until the mid-80's; she returned once again in 1990 after a five year absence from acting, in Face to Face.
On January 28 of 1993, after living together nearly 20 years, Elizabeth and Robert Foxworth were married in a simple, unpublicized ceremony. In the spring of 1995, after attributing her fatigue to overwork during the filming of her twenty-second TV movie, Deadline For Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan, Elizabeth finally visited a doctor where she was diagnosed with colon cancer; exploratory surgery proved it had spread too far and was beyond help. Just a few weeks later, on May 18, 1995, Elizabeth passed away with Foxworth and her children waiting in the next room at her request. She was 62 years old,she left us quietly at her home in Beverly Hills.
This is a geat tribute to Elizabeth Montgomery
The Day Elizabeth Montgomery drew closer to God
TV Radio MirrorFebruary 1970 As the date of her wedding approached, Liz suddenly felt that something vital was missing from her life... She let the cab go at the corner, deciding to walk the rest of the way despite the blustery wind that chilled the air. Pulling up the collar of her fur coat, Elizabeth Montgomery held it close with one gloved hand while the other kept a wisp of satin and net firmly perched atop her ash-blond hair...The hat had been a last-moment change. Though it might be a bit frivolous-looking, Liz had decided that the pale blue chapeau matched her mood--and was therefore appropriate for this solemn occasion. New York might be battling late-winter sleet and wind, but inside Elizabeth there was the decided feeling of spring! Her entire being sang with the warmth and beauty of her favorite season. The hat might be a bit out of place weatherwise...but it went along with the wonderful feeling of joy that swept through her. She bent her head slightly to ward off a sudden flurry of snowflakes, and grimaced. Not snow again! Then she was there...standing in front of the old church with its impressive spire towering high, reaching toward heaven. Elizabeth's mouth quivered a bit, then she smiled to herself: a small, secret smile that lit up her face with something close to radiance. Soon...on a day in early spring...she would apprach these same steps again. On that day she would be accompanied by dozens of others, people who loved her. On that March day in 1954, she would alight from an automobile to be guided up the wide steps with the reverence and awe due a young bride. But today--today was very important in its own right! She ascended the stone steps slowly, knowing that what she was about to do was an event which would remain forever etched in her memory. She had never explored the reasons why she had not been baptized as a child. Not until a few weeks ago had the subject ever been a compelling one. Then, from some unexplainable inner prompting, Liz had decided that this would be the time: Before she married, she wanted to hear the minister formally declare her a Christian. A rush of gratitude toward her parents overcame her for a long moment. In their wisdom, they had allowed her to come to this moment by her own choosing--because she wanted it. How much more sacred it was because of this! Now she walked past the huge doors, through the vestibule, to enter the hushed tranquility of the empty church with its lovely stained glass windows. The minister, whom she had come to know well in the weeks she had been seeing him for instruction prior to the actual baptism ceremony, moved forward to greet her. Then she was at the altar, kneeling, head bowed while he spoke the essential words. There were tears in her eyes when it was over. She had kept this her secret, but tonight she would make the annoucement that it had been done. And when they asked her why, she would state simply: "I just wanted to, that's all." Some 15 years later, Elizabeth Montgomery still maintains that her reason for being baptized at the age of 21 was simply that she felt the need to do it at that particular time. Curled up comfortably on the sofa of her cozy dressing room on the set of Bewitched, she glances about her at the things that are significantly a part of her life today. Small as it is, the room is filled with homelike touches, mementos that reflect the inner happiness one senses immediately upon meeting Liz--a happiness she has known completely, ever since her marriage to producer-director William Asher in 1963. Life wasn't always so supremely perfect for this talented and beautiful young woman. What Liz had thought of as perfection was sharply ended for her at the vulnerable age of 17. That was the year her parents were divorced after 22 years of marriage; a union idealistic young Elizabeth had thought nothing short of perfect. One can't help wondering if the trauma of that crushing event might have been the prime factor in her decision to be baptized four years later...when her own marriage was imminent. Her husband-to-be was Frederic Gallatin Cammann, a Harvard man whose family had been in the Social Register for years. Elizabeth was in love. She had always looked to marriage as her ultimate goal in life. Realizing how it had turned out for her parents, perhaps LIz felt she must reach out for every bit of support available. Liz has always been close-mouthed about the details of her personal life. Outwardly, she appeared to take her parents' divorce with dignified aplomb, but it isn't hard to imagine what the breakup meant to her at the time.A new need for God's love Today, Elizabeth Montgomery Asher finds herself as concerned about religion as she was in those months of decision before her short-lived marriage to Fred Cammann. But for entirely different reasons! As mother of two frisky runabouts (William Allen and Robert Deverell) and a baby daughter (Rebecca Elizabeth), she has had to think about the subject far more than she did in her own childhood: "My brother, Skip, and I went to Sunday School but we did not say prayers at bedtime, and our famiy was not one that regularly attended church. I suppose we believed in God, but in our own way. I enjoyed Sunday School, looked forward to going. But to me the stories were more like fairy tales. I didn't really take them seriously. "I know that many children live in mortal fear because their parents have scared them by saying that unless they are good, God will punish them. Using fright to teach religion seems to me to be very unhealthy. After all, if we can't base our belief in a Supreme Being on love, then how can any of us truly believe?" Her pretty features settle into a thoughtful expression as she continues. "Our children are still a bit young to ask questions about God, and truthfully I don't know how I will answer them when they do! There are times when I am a little uncertain about my own beliefs. I know that there are a good many people turn to religion out of a deep need, and I think it's wonderful that they can accept some of the horrors that happen--such as war and poverty--because of their intense faith. It would certainly be a lot easier to live in this world of turmoil we're in now! "We want the boys to go to Sunday School. I feel that it is a good foundation for any child. After all, even as a piece of literature alone, there is so much that is fine and wonderful in the Bible. But how do you answer questions about the fact that a plane can drop a bomb which will completely wipe out an entire city? How do you justify a God that allows such terrible things to happen? Maybe that's why our younger generation is asking so many questions," she sighs. "I think of God as the beauty in life," she sums up musingly. "It's loving and being loved; it's feeling good inside because you are living the life of a good person. Myabe it's a good idea to try new ways of looking at the subject." Fifteen years ago, Elizabeth Montgomery undertook to bring into her life something precious that had been missing. It has been a long, hard climb to happiness since her baptism, but she has made it. While her career flourished, her personal life floundered as two marriages ended in divorce (her second husband was Gig Young, the actor). But as we all know, Elizabeth Montgomery is made of very sturdy stuff. Once she had formally declared her belief in God, she knew her feet were on the right path. Now, secure in the love of Bill Asher and their three little ones, she knows that heaven isn't so far away, after all.
" Quotes "
"The minute someone says 'Oh God, you could never do that; you can't get that kind of stuff on the air'...that's the kind of stuff I want to do."
Random Facts:
Elizabeth Montgomery was the only cast member of Bewitched that was in all 254 episodes
Elizabeth and Robert Foxworth lived together for over twenty years until her death.
Elizabeth was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority ( I have no clue what that is )
Elizabeth was married to actor Gig Young
Here is the original non-colorized version of this picture
Colorized picture of the beautiful Elizabeth Montgomery ( I added the color myself )
Here is the original of this picture
Another recently colorized picture of Elizabeth Montgomery ( I added the color myself)
This is a semi-rare picture of Elizabeth Montgomery with her husband Bill Asher 1968
Off stage, Elizabeth devotes herself to mothering sons, William Allen, born in 1964 just before "Bewitched" started filming, and Robert Deverell, born in 1965.
Her final television movies were the highly-rated Edna Buchanan detective series, this is a photo from one ( what a trooper, you can't even tell that she is sick) This is also the perfect example of her ageless beauty.
Awesome tribute to the beautiful Elizabeth Montgomery ( happier more upbeat )
" Elizabeth Montgomery was under rated as an actress, she was the best, just watch Lizzy Borman, you believe that she is Phsyco Lizzy in this stunning, yet freaky performence, and don't forget about Samantha Stevens, Elizabeth could make you believe the fakiest and most dramatic stories, and bring them to life, she was very talented"
