Lead Sister

A groundbreaking biography reevaluating the life and legacy of transcendent musician Karen Carpenter As one of the biggest-selling acts of the 1970s, the Carpenters are celebrated for their melodic pop and unforgettable hits like "Close to You," "Yesterday," and "Top of the World." Though Karen is rightly recognized as one of the greatest singers in popular music, the tragedy of her early death in 1983 at the young age of just thirty-two sometimes overshadows her incredible achievements. She has often been portrayed as a victim, controlled by her family and exploited by the music industry. Forty years after her death, this biography reframes her life and legacy as a pioneering woman with her own vision and agency. With exclusive interviews with friends, musicians, and collaborators, bestselling author Lucy O'Brien explores Karen's contributions as a singer, drummer, arranger, and producer, and traces the roots of the Carpenters' iconic sound. Lead Sister also honors Karen's triumphs in the face of her struggle with anorexia, providing contemporary perspectives on eating disorders and mental health. Despite the chronic nature of her illness, Karen Carpenter was, above all, a creative, dedicated, and assured artist whose music delivers an emotional resonance that has transcended generations--and that is how she should be remembered.

O'Brien has succeeded in repositioning Karen Carpenter as something considerably more than just a haunted figure.-- "The Times (UK)", Lead Sister gives Karen Carpenter the story she deserves. Lucy O'Brien's careful research and insightful analysis show us a formidable musical artist and also shed light on the culture that could not save her in her time of need. Lead Sister illuminates more than the story of Karen Carpenter; this is a rich and engaging study of music, femininity, and the 1970s California dream as international export.--Jacqueline Warwick, full professor of musicology, Dalhousie University, A book that dares to challenge orthodoxy and rewrite the story of the Carpenters. Lucy O'Brien brings a sparkling feminism to a remarkable pop act.--Stuart Cosgrove, author of Detroit 67 and Hey America! The Epic Story of Black Music and the White House, A fascinating but tragic story. 4/5-- "MOJO", Bravo to one of the all-time best authors of our time. Just when you think we could not learn anything else about a pop icon, Lucy O'Brien removes the shackles of simplified myth to expose the innovator and trailblazer, while bravely examining the layered complications of family, fame, mental health and desire. I could not put it down.--Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, author of You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone: The Biography of Nico, and Being Britney

Lucy O'Brien is the bestselling author of She Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music, It Takes Blood And Guts, Dusty: The Classic Biography, and Madonna: Like An Icon. She has contributed to Q, Mojo, NME, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, and Marie Claire and is also a TV & radio broadcaster. She co-produced Righteous Babes, the Channel 4 film about women in rock and scripted the BBC Radio 2 series She Bop. She lives in London, and her website is www.lucyobrien.co.uk. @LucyOBrienTweet.