Karen Carpenter's closest friends...

[Rick Henry]

I was just browsing the internet and ran across an (unrelated) article which made me think about the friends Karen Carpenter made in her lifetime.

I'd love to discuss her relationship with some of these people.

The following is a list of people Karen considered to be good friends. People she confided in and people she spent a good amount of time with.

This list does not include family or band members.

Karen "Itchy" Ramone
Phil Ramone
Olivia Newton-John
Dionne Warwick
Dorothy Hamill
Christine Ferrari
Phoebe Snow

I know there are others that I have missed maybe some of you can add to this list.

What was the significance in Karen's relationship with each of these people?

[BethMosior]

WOOOOOW that is a wonderful idea Rick I'd love to read there thoughts about Karen coooool

[Rick Henry]

Hi Beth... I don't think we'll be hearing from Karen's friends... unfortunately I do not have the time to track them down to interview them... but there are many here on the internet whom I sure may have some insights into the friendships Karen had with some of these people.

Phoebe Snow was one of Karen's friends in the later 70's. Phoebe had admired Karen's thin frame and wanted to look like Karen. It's said Phoebe Snow also dealt with anorexia. Karen liked Phoebe because she was one of the few people who complimented Karen on the way she looked.

This makes me wonder how Phoebe felt when Karen passed away. It must have been a real shocker and maybe signaled a real wake up call for Phoebe.

[ldoc8]

Her closest and dearest friend was not listed, Debbie Cuticello and her husband C.j. I have been fortunate enough to have had them read my book. They contacted me and we have been communicating ever since. Karen confided her innermost secrets and desires to Debbie and she has been kind enough to talk to me about a number of things. They felt my book captured what Karen wanted and felt about a number of things and I will post what they said.They have agreed to answer any question I have about Karen. I have been doing just that. If they agree I will share some of them with you all.
Leo

[ldoc8]

Karen grew up next door to Debbie and were playmates. Karen moved away and she and Debbie remained friends, true friends even with Karen's success, and popularity.

From C.j. Cuticello via Leo

[ldoc8]

Hi Doc:
Received the book today and Debbie dove right in. Debbie says that Karen always wanted a family and Karen always told us she wanted a family especially when she came to see our newborn son Jamie. I;ll send you a copy of the picture of Karen holding Jamie. The picture was taken at Debbie's parents home. Thanks again and if you want to hear about any personal experiences we had over the years with Karen we don't mind sharing. Again thanks so much for the book it will be treasured and will be a part of our family library.
C.J. and Debbie

Leo

[Rick Henry]

Hi Leo... thank you very much for sharing these thoughts from Debbie. yes, Debbie was one of Karen's lifelong friends. They remained friends after Karen became famous. That was a side of Karen that really endeared me to her, that she never really let go of her humble beginnings.

I look forward to hearing more from you and Debbie.

Another one of Karen's closest friends, whom I forgot to mention is Frenda Leffler. Frenda was Ed Leffler's wife. Ed was a manger for the Carpenters from around 1974 onward. Karen became very close friends with Frenda right from the beginning. They were close confidantes and spent a good amount of time palling around.

Karen was God Mother to Ed and Frenda's twin sons (Andrew and Ashley). Frenda was also Karen's bridesmaid in her wedding to Thomas Burris.

Karen and Frenda remained friends to the very end. They had a "date" to get a manicure on February 4, 1983. Sadly Karen never made it to that date.

[BethMosior]

this is sooooo coooool makes me feel like old family friends are having a get to gether to remember such a wonderful Person Like Karen was just brings me much joy and I need all the joy I can get LOL my heart is overjoyed to because I lived to be 45 yesterday yahoooo GOD is soooooo wonderful, YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO LOL I like this one and to everyone whos b-days I miss hope you all had a wonderful day & year

[cinscorp]

I saw something where Olivia Newton-John made a statement about Karen being the pretty one of the Carpenters, might have been a video on youtube from one of her specials or something...or an article. I think they make pretty cool friends, although I remember reading that Richard and Karen's mom weren't too thrilled about Karen's "new friends"...Isn't that crazy to think a woman in her 20s had to answer to her family about who her friends were...

[Rick Henry]

Aug 25, 2009 9:20:08 GMT -5 cinscorp said:

I saw something where Olivia Newton-John made a statement about Karen being the pretty one of the Carpenters, might have been a video on youtube from one of her specials or something...or an article. I think they make pretty cool friends, although I remember reading that Richard and Karen's mom weren't too thrilled about Karen's "new friends"...Isn't that crazy to think a woman in her 20s had to answer to her family about who her friends were...

Yes, I agree that the family was so uptight about everything Karen did. Maybe if they loosened the strings a bit Karen would have been a happier person. But, there are so many variables that come into play considering a persons disposition in life... although the Carpenter family did not help matters at all.

I always thought Karen's friendship with Dionne Warwick was an interesting one. I remember reading in the Ray Coleman book that Warwick would visit Karen while she was in the hospital. I wonder if Warwick brought her psychic friends along.

[cinscorp]

Good thing TMZ or Popeater weren't around then or there'd be pictures plastered all over of Dionne, Shirley McLaine & Miss Cleo in NY trying to visit poor Karen. LOL.