comment on post i found on web

[enigma]

I was in the leadsister web site and came across a post by phenom44. He says his name is Stew and he was a member of the McCoys and Central Park West and goes on to state that he was in an intimate relationship with Karen in 1968-69 and they were gonna get married but didn't. There is a whole story that he told on the site that left me with more questions than answers. I am going to track him down and try to get his whole story but what I want to know here is has anybody in this forum heard anything about this relationship or this guy Stew (I can't find his name on any McCoys web sites). I am not doubting his story its just the first I have heard of it or of him. Any info or insight is appreciated.

[dgfarnsworth]

"Hang On Sloopy, Sloopy Hang On" That was The McCoys' biggest hit. I do not doubt his story. I responded to his post. (He also left an email for anyone who wished to contact him.)
DG

[Tracey]

Well, I kind of doubt his story. Karen was awfully young and had her attention set in a very industrious direction in 68 and 69. They were just about to break thru and it seems highly unlikely that she was ready to marry someone at this same time. If reports are true she was very determined in a career path that doesn't leave alot of time for getting so completely involved withsomeone that she would feel ready to marry. And if it were true - what possible reason could there be for leaving such an innocent side note out of one of the biographies/movie?? She certainly wasn't under age and he was allegedly connected to a moderately successful group. It would only add to her bio. I'm not saying it isn't possible, but it just seems a bit suspicious to me. My apologies to "Stew" but his "soup" smells fishy!

[dgfarnsworth]

I am in no way taking up for Stew, and I respond (again) only to this post due to the "suspicious" tone of your post. Just because someone talks about getting married, it could be ANYTIME in the future--not that moment in 1968-1969. (And I certainly hope, Tracey, you read Stew's post on Leadsister [under REMEMBERING KAREN before coming to your cynical conclusion. But in saying that, I think you are RIGHT: we must ALL QUESTION anything we hear about Karen--anyone....get the facts from wherever, then make-up our own judgement.)

I woud ask these questions: Why would someone with one of the BIGGEST hits of the 1960's (Hang On Sloopy) make up this tale....a song that is also the theme song of Ohio State University. He is a sociology professor now in a Midwest University....has written an academic paper on Karen Carpenter--presented in April this year (obviously has a reputation--and "lying" would not seem appropriate--not saying it couldn't happen; as we don't know his personality make-up). Stew offered to fans HIS EMAIL for ANYONE who had questions about this. So maybe one should ASK HIM MORE.

Now concering the biography....I would say there are a host of people who have had biographies written about them that had a lot of details out. I mean if someone were to write a biography about me, today, they would NEVER get the real story. Same with Karen....we can only get a portrait of what is relayed by people interviewed....I can say that it could probably be true in Karen's case....as it would be mine....that there are a lot of things that people just keep between relationships....that only the person in the relationship knows about that person (and Stew was just letting this out--an unknown fact)....I know in my case there are a litany of things that ONLY the person I was involved with (in a relatiionship) would know about me.

As far as the movie goes....Stew said (as I recall) that they were going to be married until "someone came between them"...intimating that "someone" tore them apart.....Well, though it is conjecture, seems a likely guess that "someone" could be Richard. And that "someone" was the force behind the movie made about Karen (could have easily left out).

I will relay to you a "tidbit" that most people don't know about Karen--unless you are from New Haven (or read it on my post last year on another Web site....or go to the Toy Fox Terrier Dog shows):

The lady I see each year at the Toy Fox Terrier Dog Shows (I own a TFT) is from New Haven, Connecticut...Her name is Dorie Hallaway. She owns the brother of my Toy Fox Terrier.. I am known to often bring Karen up in conversations.....many of the breeders at the shows know this....Once I was talking about Karen and learned this. Mrs. Hallaway's husband's brother's name is Gary. And Gary "dated" Karen before she moved from New Haven.

Yes, of course, Karen was "very young" but there are a lot of us who "dated...or called it "dating" when we were that young. Her exact words to me were, "My husband's brother, Gary, dated Karen." Of course I pried, but I never got any real information about the relationship--because she said any time she was around her brother-in-law that "dated" Karen, his wife was around. And without saying, it's generally not a good idea to talk about old girlfriends around the wife--even if it WAS Karen. But I don't doubt her story....her brother-in'-law has told lots of people this fact. People in New Haven know it....witnessed it.

So, NOW you know Karen dated Gary Hallaway before moving to California....an innocent tidbit that has never been included in anything I have read. So again, any biography or movie is simply the PERCEPTION the writer or movie maker has of that person featured. I think this is an important thing to remember. Simply, because we ONLY know about Karen what is put out there....Perception is everything. And EVERYONE perceives the world (people) diffferently.....

DG

[Tracey]

Gosh DG,
Sorry to have stepped on a nerve! I'm sure Karen had more of a life than any of us will ever know. As for Stew, well, I hope my "cyncism" IS misplaced as another passionate love affair would have been nice for Karen, who ultimately was cheated out of so much of life.
I wouldn't DREAM of contacting Stew and asking for "proof". In the first place its a very harmless tale - (not saying it IS a tale here, but saying "what if" it is not true) - so why would I want to contact him with a "challenge". It's not like he said he did drugs with Karen or in anyway slandered her. I just added my post because someone had offered a post with their opinion that the story was true, and I guess I got the impression that we were going to weigh in with our own opinions. I wasn't pretending to be omnipotent and have any inside "knowledge" or any desire to "stamp out" what I thought was a rumor. It just didn't sound likely to me based on alot of things that HAVE come out in bios about Karen and her family at that time. Of course I could be dead wrong, I didn't know her personally any more than most of the rest of us. I just had an opinion and I am sorry if it hit a raw nerve. I think If you have read any of my other posts on here you would know I am not that kind of person.

But this does make me realize I should be a bit more careful with what opinions I do post here as I am the new guy and don't know my way around really. So from now on I promise to try and NOT sound cynical.

Please forgive!

Hugs from middle C,
Tracey

[Boat2Sail]

I have to comment on some of the comments made here.
I decided to do some checking into the band members of the McCoys. I checked three different sources. Nowhere did a I find a band member named Stew. Members listed are guitarist Rick Zehringer (Later known as Rick Derringer), his brother Randy on drums, bass player Dennis Kelly and organist Ronnie Brandon. Soon after Randy Hobbs replaced the college-bound Dennis Kelly.

It seems that if Karen dated someone from a well known band, like the McCoys, that somewhere it would have been documented. Your statement, DG, about Karen dating Gary Hallaway is interesting, but Gary was not a celebrity so his connection with Karen is not material for documenting. But Karen's connection to anyone in the entertainment industry (especially a member of a group that did have two or three hits) is worthy of documentation.

These are only observations I have made. I could be wrong here.

[Sparkle]

What was the message(about the dude trying to marry Karen) posted under? What was the name of the subject,I wanna read!!!

[enigma]

A mini update here but first in my original post I made it clear that I am not doubting his story. I too have failed to come up with his association with the McCoys but have been in contact with him regularly via e-mail. I am hopefully going to hear (read) his story and create an abstract when all the info is in only with his blessing and permission and will not include (or ask) anything that is deemed too personal out of respect for Karen and the Carpenter family. Then I will leave it up to anyone who is reading it to determine whether it is real or not. BTW he seems quite genuine and helpful I'm hoping he's for real.