Drummer's First Time Watching Karen Carpenter LIVE! 'Help, Mr. Guder'

[@carolhesterberg7526]

Female drummers were extremely rare when Karen started studying them. I'm sure she inspired many other girls to take them up. And the Carpenters were WILDLY popular in Japan!!!!

[@-Ricky_Spanish-]

Shoutout to Viola Smith, who just passed in 2020 at the age of 107.

[@carolhesterberg7526]

Karen was an award-winning JAZZ drummer before she started singing. She had natural, internal rhythm and I guess that's how she was able to sing AND play at the same time....which is, as you said, incredibly difficult!

[@kevindohn6776]

I drum and sing all the time, it's not hard !

[@carolhesterberg7526]

@@kevindohn6776 Good for you, but you may be quite unusual. For myself, I found it very difficult to be playing syncopated piano parts while singing things that weren't syncopated. Quite a challenge!

[@kevindohn6776]

@@carolhesterberg7526 well ya,piano is harder than drums, especially if you're playing melodies and not just banging on chords

[@kevindohn6776]

@@carolhesterberg7526 plus I've been doing it since 1975

[@carolhesterberg7526]

@@kevindohn6776 Practice makes perfect!

[@jamesanderson5268]

Karen always said, "I'm a drummer who can sign. Always a drummer first."

[@michaelasay8587]

Nah she was a singer first!!

[@CrYou575]

@@michaelasay8587 You know better than her what she was?

[@PaleHorseShabuShabu]

She knew sign language?

[@daveburns3886]

She didn’t want to be up front just singing lead, Richard composed and played keys and he and managers / producers pressured her into almost abandoning drumming..

[@kevindohn6776]

well she was wrong, definitely a better singer than drummer !

[@michaelhill4353]

So pleased to see you acknowledge Karen Carpenter as one of the drumming greats beyond just her talents as a vocalist, Wave. The earliest known footage of Karen on drums is from 1968, performing a cover of Dancing in the Street alongside older brother Richard in the Dick Carpenter Trio. It's incredibly sad that Karen met such a tragic end, but this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate her musical legacy rather than wallow in despair at what became of Karen.

[@WavePotter]

Nicely said Michael!

[@michaelasay8587]

​@@WavePotterKeep goin with Karen!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@craigfenson]

you know you're damn good behind the kit when even john bonham creates a beef with you.

[@michellelamar8965]

She loved drumming. Her whole demeanor is completely different when she drums shes all smiles. Some think that at least a small part of her eating disorder was caused by the pressure to stand front and center when shed have preferred to stay behind the drums. Front and center she felt more self conscious of her body.

[@OHsopositive]

She always looked the happiest when drumming

[@ChuckHackney]

Yes, she always seems happiest when drummin' which is ironic because her vocal talents are one for the ages. What a gifted soul, inside and out. Just so, so sad she did not see it. Sigh, mega sighs. Now I am sobbing again, what this woman does to my soul.

[@zigman8550]

Because she was! They should've just left her behind her beloved Ludwigs.

[@SayItAintSo4real]

​​totally agree. Her weight loss problems started when they took her off the kit more and more until she no longer played at all except for about a 10 minute little skit in their concerts. And the weight continued to drop from the eating disorder she ultimately developed, given it was one of the few things she could still control in her life. So sad! Just horrific, what happened. That and the gold digger, turned husband whom entered her life. 😞 Bless her. She deserved so much better than what ultimately happened there at the end. I just hope she knows how beloved she still is even now, the world over. She so deserves to know that. 🥹

[@-Ricky_Spanish-]

By most accounts, that's what she wanted to be doing, she did not want to take over lead vocals she was kind of pushed into it.

[@SayItAintSo4real]

@-Ricky_Spanish- exactly. Yes, I have heard and read that same thing, too, from reputable sources, people who knew her personally and whom she considered her friends; not just some random fans, but ppl who had known her for years and knew her very well. It's heartbreaking to me. I do know that some of the pressure was coming from the manager himself, and I do wonder if part of the problem was that it was back in the early 1970s. And it was so unusual to have a woman play a large drumkit like that. It was highly unusual to see a woman play any form of drums at all! In a lot of ways, Karen was very much before her time, and the culture and music industry just didn't know what to do with that. I do wonder, though, if she had not been the lead singer, how much that would have made a difference in her favor, too. But I don't know that I'll ever understand why the people around her could not put it together, and how that was part of the problem with why she was losing so much weight. She obviously felt out of control of her own life. And the one thing she loved just about more than anything else in the world was her beloved drums! Can anyone imagine how Richard would have felt if the powers that be had told him, "Excuse us, but we need you out front Richard. You're only going to be allowed to play your beloved keyboards for about a fourth of the concert." Mmmhmmm. No way. There is no way Richard would have put up with that. Nor should he have. It was different for women in those years. But today, or even 20+/- years ago, she would have had more clout to put her foot down and say, "No. This is what I'm going to do, period." And continue on playing her drumkit as she also carried the band with her lead-voice vocals. The irony. The f'ing irony. 😓

[@Skotty1899]

Someone who would first and foremost call herself a drummer has one of the best voices in pop music history. Near-perfect pitch, caramel-covered tones, and evocatively transcendent. 'Bless the Beasts and Children' and 'Merry Christmas, Darling' are two of my favorites. (And we have to give a huge nod to her brother, a masterful composer, arranger, and piano player.)

[@bobespirit2112]

Those low notes of hers - melted honey!

[@glowormrdr6183]

I don't even know anything about drumming, but I was really touched by your admiration for Karen's skill and talent. It's impressive when an aficionado raves; we know it's based on real understanding. RIP Karen.

[@bonester50]

Karen Carpenter is considered in the music world one of if not the best female drummers. Many drummers including Buddy Rich, Hal Blaine, Neal Pert, Cindy Santana, Stewart Copeland and others plus Drumeo, Drumming World and others sing her praises.

[@obud3777]

Best female drummers if you don’t listen to all the Japanese female metal drummers!

[@michaelhill4353]

​@obud3777 . Japanese female drummers cover a wide spectrum of music beyond just Metal or Hard Rock. Tamu pre Nemophila was in Soramimi alongside Juna Serita, which was the musical antithesis of Nemophila. Not to mention her extracurricular musical activities outside of the aforementioned Nemophila. Even one of Tamu's own former students, Kanako (ex Hagane), has covered a plethora of music beyond her past work in Hagane and more recently as support drummer for PaleNeo. Senri Kawaguchi, Kanade Sato, Yoyoka. The list goes on!

[@MrMousefromXeNTaX]

That is just nonsense. Yes, Karen was a great drummer, but she is no virtuoso. She was a pioneer in the West, but so were other female drummers. I am a Karen fan, but I would not in any world consider her the best. Please come down to Earth.

[@michaelhill4353]

@MrMousefromXeNTaX If you'd read more carefully, I clearly stated that she was ONE of the greats, not the BEST or a VIRTUOSO idiot. I wasn't implying that Karen was the be-all and end all of female drummers as I'm well aware of the fact that there are many extremely talented female drummers around the world. Pull your head out of your arse before you ever think to shoot your mouth off at me again. Each to their own. You don't like it. TOUGH.

[@MrMousefromXeNTaX]

@@michaelhill4353 I was replying to @bonester50. Now a michaelhill4535 replies to that message as if they are @bonester50? This is weird. Also: rude. Stop your needless agression.

[@fuz4623]

Love seeing Karen play the Drums.

[@Lovejazz01]

Wow, never saw thus before, what a progressive take on Help Me! Love it! Yes Karen was so happy playing the drums. I wonder how much she played them in her last years. I wish I had seen them live at least once in my 63 years.

[@stevetournay6103]

Help, not Help Me (which is Joni Mitchell!...oh Lordy it would be magnificent to hear KC sing River...)

[@don-music]

Karen was a drummer who sang well. Her own priority was drums. She loves to play and had serious chops and could sing and play amazingly… check their early shows when she was full time drummer and lead vocalist at once

[@johnmatthew102]

The "other" drummer is Cubby O'Brien, is a former child star who was hand picked by Walt Disney for the original Mickey Mouse Club television show which ran from 1955 to 1958. He got to sing and dance next to Annette Funicello, lucky guy, but he also did a lot of featured performances on the show centered around the drums. His father, "Hack" O'Brien" was a well-known drummer during the big band era. Now you know. :)

[@alanpollard1]

Saw Cubbie live just a couple months ago, backing up Bernadette Peters in concert. He's still playin' his ass off!

[@deannebenkert6700]

She was named rock drummer of the year in 1976 by Playboy Magazine !

[@cmorris9494]

She was 5th.

[@deannebenkert6700]

@@cmorris9494 sorry check your facts she was 1st!! John Bonnam had a fit when he found out she beat him!!

[@user-hy2rs8ly4h]

Beautiful, never seen her so happy before. really nice.

[@donaldvanderlinden1245]

WAVE , THERE'S A VIDEO ON KZbin WHEN SHE JUST PLAYS DRUMS ! IT'S AMAZING !

[@marksowers5041]

A really Talented woman and her brother too. I grew up in the 60s and we bought one of their amazing albums. A top musician and there are other videos of her drumming skills.

[@rodneyhearne3405]

Thank you for this wonderful reaction. I have never seen this concert before. I saw them 2 years earlier in 1972 at Boise State and it was amazing how tight and how much they enjoyed entertaining. This brought back some fond memories.

[@Nightowl427272]

Her brother was/is a crazy gifted keyboardist and producer…jazz and classical. Those two could not lose. The put some really good bands together for their acts too.

[@carolhesterberg7526]

Mister Guder was one of their originals and based on an experience working at Disneyland.

[@cliffordlowerre1381]

I was a junior in high school at this time. You can see why a lot of young men like me fell in love with this beautiful young lady with the ANGELIC voice. AND PLAYED THE DRUMS TOO!!!! Unheard of back then! Rest In Peace Beautiful Girl!

[@ThouDailyBlab]

One of the top drummers of all time male or female. Check out her solo stuff on YT if you haven't.

[@bubuwawa]

She did Bosa Nova while singing, too! They were so talented as a group.

[@retiredslamjamm]

Never saw this before, Glad you reacted to this

[@rwilson7197]

Thank you for posting this video that Ive never seen before. I enjoyed your comments. Nice to see Karen's drumming get appreciated. I've heard it was what she loved most, even more than singing. ❤

[@MichaelAndrews-uy1gl]

A very talented woman...many do not know her expertise as a drummer.

[@grahamreed8774]

Saw the Carpenters in London in 1971 and was surprised at the time that Karen played the drums. I remember that their band members was also excellent. There was no second drummer at this show as it was only later that Karen stopped playing the drums for the whole show. It was their record company that stopped her playing drums as they wanted her to be out front all the time- this added to her depression.

[@WavePotter]

Ugh. Corporations are always great at destroying true artists.

[@45communicator]

Buddy Rich once said he really enjoyed Karen Carpenter's drumming.

[@ChuckHackney]

@45communicator So let's sèe that's Buddy Rich, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Dionne Warwick, Petula Clark and many others, tops in their fields, recognized this woman's extraordinary talent. Just so stunning and personally vindicating.

[@carolhesterberg7526]

Yes, she was one of the few drummers he praised.

[@kens32052]

Karen always had the biggest smile on her face whenever she was playing the drums.

[@mikeat2637]

There is a video on KZbin where she is trading off with Buddy Rich, who I feel is one of the best creative drummers of all time given when he was at his prime. Karen has that same type of creativity, as does Akane Hirose and Yoyoka, who's creativity level is off the charts.

[@johnstanton8308]

The Carpenters hired Cubby O'Brien in 1973 to essentially replace Karen for most of the on stage drumming duties, as they were encouraging her to front the band and be the focus as the lead singer out front. For a period of time prior to 1976, she would still play in tandem with Cubby on the more upbeat numbers, while standing out front for the ballads. By 1976, her kit was removed entirely from the stage, and she only performed a special drumming spectacular number for one segment of their live shows. In addition, while she did play the drums on the occasional studio recording track, following their initial album, most of the studio drumming was performed by others like Hal Blaine.

[@allengray5748]

Cubby from the MICKEY MOUSE CLUB?? Awesome if so though good if wasn't! 🕊️☮️

[@johnstanton8308]

@@allengray5748 You are correct! After his childhood stardom with the Mickey Mouse Club, he eventually became part of the stage band for the Carol Burnett show, and that is where he met the Carpenters on one of their guest appearances.

[@allengray5748]

@@johnstanton8308 Nice!! Always good to hear a success story! ☮️

[@rippedgenes]

Corporate interference in a band with this level of talent is another great tragedy. A gifted musician being held back from their instrument except for a token spot is just a horrific thing.

[@rhm5158]

Saw them live in Vegas way back in early 70’s when she was still behind the drums for the whole concert. They opened for comedian Don Adams of Get Smart

[@sailordave1000]

I love drummers who have technical skills that they can use to fully express their drumming. Tight control can lead to greater drumming range. From soft light taps to compliment the song to wailing hard and fast. Maintaining consistent tempo control is more vital for drumming than high speed drumming.

[@gageguy]

It's not so much as she had technical skills, it's just that the feel is just in you or not. The drums were a part of her. She felt them intuitively.

[@Perfect_Blend]

Karen inspired me to play drums in my high school marching band back in the 70's. If Karen could do it, surely it was ok for a girl to play drums. She was always so good live as well. I saw them many times. Such a talent.Their co-drummer, Cubby O'Brian was one of the original Mousketeers.....just an FYI. Karen took drum lessons from Bill Douglass, a well-respected jazz drummer with Benny Goodman and Art Tatum.

[@WavePotter]

That's so awesome! Thanks for sharing that. And i caught that Mickey Mouse Club thing when i was watching the full concert. Looks like they had a great time together!

[@jbs256]

Hey PB ❤

[@bluewolf63]

@Perfect_Blend That’s awesome!! Same here. We were tested in the 4th grade (in 1973) to see who had musical aptitude and what instruments we might be suited to. I didn’t care what instrument I had an aptitude for, I had my heart set on playing the drums like my hero Karen Carpenter. Of course, in those days, it was very rare and a lot of people tried talking me out of it, but my Mom (a longtime Carpenters fan) put her foot down and told them all, “If she wants to play the drums, she’s going to play the drums!”. My Mom and Karen Carpenter were both my heroes… R.I.P. to both!❤

[@ToxicMascGuy]

Great reaction video, bro. What I like most about this reaction video, too many of the others that I watched on KZbin, is that you just don’t fawn over her vocals, which are fantastic. But you delve in to her other talent, which is drumming, and you being an accomplished drummer, you get to break it down for the viewers in listener. as aCarpenter fan, I’m surprised I’ve never come across this concert footage. So thank you very much for bringing this to me and making me appreciate the Carpenters on a whole new level.

[@WavePotter]

I’m really glad you appreciated this. Thank you for letting me know!

[@xrey83]

Most other reactors don’t know anything about drums or aren’t drummers. Of course they wouldn’t delve into the drumming as much.

[@sueshow401]

I really miss Karen Carpenter and her brother capabilities. Quite amazing timing in her kit to sing at the same time. Her percussion timing with the entire band including another drummer.

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

There is a clip of her brother Richard explaining how furniture dissapeared as her kit grew, while they were kids. She rushes around the stage, playing all of her drums during his speech?

[@CraigNeeve]

She was drummer who sang not the other way around and whoever forced her the other way around stole her joy

[@waywardronin8755]

Exactly she always said she felt she was a drummer who happened to sing, and she was always happiest when she was playing drums. You could just see the look of pure joy on her face every time she sat behind the kit.

[@carolhesterberg7526]

You've got to hear their genius rendition of the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride." Turned it into a beautiful ballad! For original songs written by Richard and lyricist John Bettis, try out "I Need to Be in Love ." One of Karen's favorites and considered by many to be her theme song. "Only Yesterday" and "Yesterday Once More" are also originals. But for more great drumming, listen to "Your Wonderful Parade" in which Richard sings lead and Karen plays drums and does harmonies. I believe Richard avd John wrote this one. It's on the "Ticket to Ride" album.

[@KayKeneetit]

I love your analysis!! Thank you so much!

[@JoshG1234]

Karen had a voice like no other female singer. Smooth, and of a perfectly stable pitch throughout each line. I read that because she was a relatively small lady, primarily due to unfortunate reasons, the power of her voice suffered. Therefore she had to sing into a microphone placed very close to her mouth and then amplified more than usual to capture the sound properly.

[@Kenji_Onoda]

I consider Carpenters to be a progressive rock band because of the complexity of their song structures.

[@mikeat2637]

That is an extremely good point.

[@jbs256]

Very well said. When people say they were weak musically, I’m wondering what they were listening to. I just figure they had no relevant knowledge to base the drivel coming from their brain.

[@mikeat2637]

@@jbs256 As you so ably pointed out, the detractors really had no idea what musical talent actually was.

[@jbs256]

@@mikeat2637 many of us did back then. But the detractors were known and annoying. They are still around, sadly. Me and a bunch of new friends went to the 55th and just rejoiced in the magic. Many were also introduced to Tori for the first time at the acoustic concert on day 2. They were in shock. Loudest applause of the night.

[@A-whiter-shade-of-pale]

I agree the complexity of their music put it far above rock, but I always thought of it as closer to cool or California jazz which is how they started in 1965 when Karen was a 15 year old drummer (she did not sing yet they sometimes had another young woman who sang) in the Dick Carpenter Jazz Trio. She was a true unicorn. I spent a lot of time in jazz clubs around Los Aneles but had never seen a little 15 year old girl who was a jazz drummer of that caliber. In 1966 they won the Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands.

[@ChuckHackney]

There are so many things I have said a out my love for this generationally talented woman. But I notice something here that others have referenced. When she is drumming, she seems supremely happy. In a lifetime cut short by her self image and relationship sadness, she truly does seem so happy when she is behind the drums...now I'm shedding a tear again for her.....

[@NewBritainStation]

There are a number of earlier videos of her drumming prior to the addition of Cubby as the second drummer. Unfortunately the majority are poorly recorded in terms of the drums, so you have to pay close attention to the video to see what she’s doing. Her hi-hat and snare playing are particularly interesting, using lots of different techniques. She also switches between traditional and matched grip depending on the song. You’ll see her use a lot of muting by hand, on the hi-hat but also the drums on the end of some fills. There’s another live version of Mr. Guder that has a better video angle, and there’s an audio-only “a capella” version of Ticket to Ride that includes her drums which are far more interesting than what you can hear on the full recording. As good as Karen is on the drums, one can only imagine how amazing she would have been had they chosen to continue playing straight jazz and letting her really play. She always played for the song, so the Carpenters material never really highlighted her drumming talents, other than her impeccable taste. Check out the mid-sixties (audio only) versions of Caravan, a couple versions of Richard’s piece Iced Tea, and their complex time signature shifting arrangement of Girl from Ipanema. All recorded when she was 16-17 and had only been playing a year or two.

[@artistjoh]

There is a fabulous drum-story song they did on their own TV show in which she has a whol;e stage full of different drums that she runs between. In that one she also has a second drummer, and there are parts where the two drummers do question/answers. Worth looking for. Moody Blues doing Nights in White Satin at the Albert Hall have at kleast two, but maybe three drummers plus the percussion section of the philarmonic orchestra. Also worth checking out.

[@TJHolloway-c8l]

There are two great videos of her doing solos, both on Carpenters TV specials

[@A-whiter-shade-of-pale]

While she had what I consider to be the most beautiful magnetic voice of any singer that is NOT how she started. When I first saw her she was the drummer in the Dick Carpenter Jazz Trio. They played in jazz clubs around Los Angeles. Richard was the founder arranger and writer of part of their music Karren the drummer and Wesley Jacobs bass and tuba sometimes they had a trumpet player or singer. This was in 1965 and Karen was 15. She could already handle complex times like Dave Brubeck's "Take Five". In fact, Joe Morello helped her pick her kit. In 1966 they won the Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands. with two songs "Girl from Ipanema" and "Iced Tea" which Richard wrote. You can listen to a copy of "Iced Tea if you do a search on 1966 battle of the bands. In 1968 they made their first TV appearance on Your All American College Show. Jacobs had gone to Julliard and was replaced by Bill Sissoyev providing the bass and Karen was now singing. It was a College talent show that had weekly winners who competed for overall winner. They were cowinners of that. You can see it with a search for Your All American College Show Final - Dancing In The Street (1968). The first of their tours I saw she was behind the drums full time. but the critics were on them saying they had no focal point (like her voice was not all the focal point you needed). The next she was out front for part of it with a drummer working the drums then she would take over the drums again and the drummer would leave. They would change several times during a show. Then they started setting up 2 drum kits and she would use one (sometimes) while O'Brien used the other. She was a one in a million drummer, but 1 in a billion singer but she always considered herself to be a drummer who sang not a singer who played the drums. She also played the bass guitar on two tracks of their first album. In 1975 she came out rated above Led Zeppelin's drummer in Playboys "who sponsored a jazz festival back then" really upset him.

[@carolhesterberg7526]

Glad you passed along this info. Saved me the time of doing so!!

[@sallyatticum]

Wow. I have never seen this video. Had no idea it existed. Thanks for sharing~

[@thomastimlin1724]

That's the famous Cubby O'Brien on the other drum kit. When he was a kid, he was a Mouseketeer on the TV show Disney's Mickey Mouse Club.

[@landreaulover]

I was a Carpenters fan in the 1970s (still am), but didn't know she played drums until a few years before her death. I absolutely love seeing her play the drums in videos -- and she looks amazing here. RIP, Karen.

[@Rolling_Ronnie]

She was a jazz drummer and an exceptionally good one!

[@misacastillo282]

Great reaction about amazing Karen Carpenter, please react Karen Carpenter drum solo live in 1976, is great😊

[@janicetrimmell6897]

Yes, she had real chops. She had the admiration of Buddy Rich, and that's a high honor!

[@276parpir]

Had they been so inclined, they would have been of of the greatest Prog Rock bands of all time........

[@danquinnell3502]

That instrumental break at the end is borderline prog. You’re right. I think they could have done it easily.

[@gregwhitcoe5411]

LOL I just stumbled upon your channel!!! Your smile says it all!!! Yeah, she's an unbelievable drummer! I hope you find more videos of Karen playing the drums... this is actually pretty "tame" compared to some of the ones I've seen!!! LOL Great reaction! (Mr. Gruder is a new one for me!!!) Thanks for sharing!!! ❤

[@allycat9044]

They actually played the Budokan twice, in 72 & 74. Check out live in Australia in 1972, some nice drumming from Karen.

[@Bikebrh]

The other drummer is partly there to allow her to walk away from the drums if she wants to walk to the front of the stage. The other drummer is Cubby O'Brien from the original from the Original Mickey Mouse Club. He usually toured with them.

[@KarlHalliday-q6j]

I saw her in the early 1970s in Syracuse new york and she played drums and sang. Awesome!

[@pauldourlet]

I saw Karen sing and drum through Help in 1972 -she opened the show with this song.

[@tubularguynine]

If you haven't yet, check out 'Karen Carpenter's Drum Solo' 🔥AND fun!

[@ruffmeow9893]

great video - thanks!!

[@firemedic5100]

Karen was a very technical drummer, but she did occationally let herself go. She actually felt more at home behind the kit.

[@stevetournay6103]

Guitarist looks lije Tony Peluso, with whom Richard invented the power ballad via Tony's solo on Carpenters' 1972 Goodbye To Love. .

[@marcuswood5975]

Dude the world renowned you're one of our greatest musicians in the United States in the world ever

[@lauramittler]

They had the 2nd drummer because her label was constantly pushing her to be out in front and not behind her kit, so the 2nd drummer made sense. Also, 2 of the best drummer/ singers on the planet are Phil Collins (in and out of Genises) and Don Henley of the Eagles. Both are just perfection at both playing and killer vocals. ❤

[@pauldourlet]

You notice that she and the other drummer are drumming at EXACTLY the same TIME ,

[@kanjuro8926]

Fantastic cover !

[@pernblue]

She always said she was a drummer who sang.

[@aussiegrandpa]

"Karen Carpenter Drum Solo - 1976 First Television Special" and "The Honeycombs - Have I the right - Sweden 65" (Honey Langtree on drums. Also does vocals).

[@pauldourlet]

The Carpenters did 2 of the best anti-establishment songs of the 1970s ---Mt Guder, and Your Wonderful Parade.

[@carriekoehler1986]

She was rated higher than john Bonham in rolling stone magazine

[@barriobajaj]

Karen was a huge fan of Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck Quartet) and Ringo Starr. She was endorsed by Ludwig Drums who set her up with everything she wanted. Check out her Ludwig jellybean set. Her original Ludwig silver sparkle kit that was purchased by her parents is now on permanent display at her and Richard's alma mater, Cal State Long Beach. An original Super Sensitive Snare played by Karen Carpenter is on display at the Ludwig showroom in Monroe, North Carolina. The snare is a 5x14 Aluminum Model 401 and was manufactured on December 7, 1971.

[@phillipridgway8317]

In the earlier days of TV almost all performances were lip-synced, to save time in setup and to get the better sound quality of an audio studio recording, which was hard to match in the time frame of a quick turn-around tv show. The artists rarely had any say in the matter, apart from providing the audio recording.

[@magneto7930]

Karen was such a fantastic singer that the only thing she really needed to do was concentrate on the drumming and just let her voice flow. Props to her brother for such great arrangements. Both of them were extremely talented.

[@pbasswil]

To the best of my knowledge, Karen didn't play drums on their records; they used studio pro drummers. But she loved to drum, and the crowds loved seeing her do it on a few feature songs.

[@kingskidgirl2]

She was a tiny gal, and I get that they wanted her out front so she could be better seen, but seems to me they could've just put the drums up on a platform and let her PLAY! You can tell she was her happiest behind the kit.

[@americanswan]

I was 10 in 1989. This traumatized me. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6O0dWCGfq2JbNEsi=ROpw8BkxseVIiLDA I assume you know why she was tiny.

[@miked2445]

Thank you. Just, thank you.

[@griffokk]

I believe a little research will reveal the backline drummer to be Ronnie Tutt - famous for being the drummer for Elvis Presley in his later career. This was a great clip, I had not seen it before. Karen rocks!!

[@dougramsey1012]

Naw, it's Cubby. But there are definite similarities between his style and Tutt's. They both had big kits and weren't afraid to use every bit of them! 😂 I believe Tutt did play on at least one studio track, though the title escapes me right now. In any event, you were correct in the most important statement: Karen does, in fact, rock!

[@griffokk]

@@dougramsey1012 Thank you! I stand corrected. I had not known of Cubby before.

[@dougramsey1012]

@@griffokk yeah, Cubby's enough like Tutt that I can see why one would mistake one for the other. Tutt played on at least three tracks on the "Passage" album, including "Calling Occupants". I don't know if Cubby learned anything directly from Tutt or if they just have the same influences.

[@The3318]

She was a phenom!

[@sea-ferring]

This is the first time I've seen her play with a matched grip. No bottom heads was a massive trend in the 1970s.

[@corgiluver9718]

Great reaction, thanks!!

[@dinodasbunce6224]

The other drummer is Cubby O"Brien, was an original Mouseketeer from the original Mickey Mouse Club from the 1950s. That is pretty original.

[@scottroloff7391]

Didn't need second drummer, Karen is enough.

[@rosskelly8268]

Thanks for a great commentary!

[@michaelasay8587]

L9ve the song...Mr. Guder!!!

[@thomasmelcher6816]

See the BBC sessions ,more drumming of Karen

[@alexfletcher5192]

The biggest British band in America in the 1970s was probably Led Zeppelin. When drummer John Bonham was asked what it felt like to be the best drummer in the world, he allegedly answered: 'Ask Karen Carpenter....'

[@EW-ty6qw]

Yes dude, they are some damn good musicians.

[@graemeedwards1554]

Great reaction and good to hear a drummer's insight into Karen's skills. You can see her drumming up close in this wonderful live performance of Mr Guder kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6jYqH-nabKGercsi=sqlrDcx4SiWqb8a1 & see her let rip on the drums in an oldies medly kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHiZqoSGma-VptUsi=YWwuz-GFFy8tyrRY

[@eggy1962]

the other drummer is Cubby O Brian, he was always there on live stuff and when Karen was upfront...... Carpenters early songs Hal Blaine of the wrecking crew did studio recordings on drums....i like Karen's drumming on Only Yesterday.

[@JosephBurke-k4t]

The Carpenters backing drummer was Cubby O Brien from the Mickey Mouse Club of the 1950s. They used him when they wanted two drummers, or when they wanted Karen to be up front singing, unencumbered by her drums.

[@stevekirkbride2968]

The other drummer is Cubby O’Brien who got his start as a Mouseketeer on the Mickey Mouse Club in the mid 50’s. He was the Carpenter’s drummer for an Uber of years when Karen came out from behind the drums.

[@brentwalker8596]

The Carpenters were/are very popular in Japan.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

Karen was the real deal...so sad that she passed so young.

[@ElizaHamilton1780]

Apparently, The Carpenters made a point of sounding exactly like their albums when they performed live. There was no room for improvisation. I think this is where there’s room for two drummers to play at the same time without muddying up the music. Also: Mr. Guder is about a boss that she and/or her brother Rich had when they worked at Disneyland as musicians.

[@JeffreyLink-w5j]

I had the pleasure of meeting K&R several times backstage, and I can tell you this: almost ALL performances you see (videos or TV), they are lip-syncing, because the complexity of their vocal overdubs in the studio to make multi-voice parts, required that they do so on most shows.) In Europe, they HAD to perform live many times (required by the TV show), and of course in concert, the backup band provided extra vocals. There are some exceptions: Live at the BBC 1971 (a couple songs are LS'd, but most were done live). Bruce Forsyth's Big Night show (UK) was also live (Richard was back in the US in rehab, and Karen lied that he had the flu). Though Karen at this time was very, very ill---she knocked out "Postman," "I Need to be In Love," and "Merry Christmas Darling" totally live, and without ANY backing vocals.

[@pauldourlet]

I saw Karen sing and drum in1972. She was radiant behind the drums. When she fronted the band, she was so uncomfortable

[@kb6849]

She's the goddess of pop.

[@sueshow401]

❤❤