Thursday, November 14, 2013

Richard Carpenter's daughter, Mindi...

Richard Carpenter grew up to marry his first cousin, Mary Rudolph, his mother's sister's daughter.  Mary Rudolph was adopted, though, so there was no biological tie… and they went on to have five kids: Kristi, Traci, Mindi, Colin, and Taylor.  The Carpenters are still pretty popular in Asia, as evidenced by this video I found of Richard and his daughter, Mindi, performing in Japan…




I have always loved "Little Altar Boy" as done by The Carpenters…



First thing I notice when I listen to Mindi sing is that she has a good voice.  She doesn't sound like Karen and, poor thing, probably is often expected to sound like her or is compared to her.  It must be hard to live up to that, though she does come across as charming and poised in this video.  She does have a nice voice, strong, clear, and tuneful.  It sounds like a voice that would be good on stage, though, not so much as a pop singer.  It has character, like one might expect from a Broadway performer.  She projects well and has very precise diction, though I also hear just a trace of her father's lisp.  I'm sure she's always wondered about Karen, especially since she was named after her.     

31 comments:

  1. I think you're absolutely right that Mindi's voice is more suited to stage. My initial thought was that she didn't have a very pleasant voice, but i decided I was wrong; it's just that the song wasn't well-suited to showcase her talents. I'm familiar with it because it's on an Andy Williams Christmas record that my parents have.

    I don't particularly like the song even in what I would consider its best setting, and this certainly isn't its best setting. It's far too up-tempo here,. Richard is beating the hell out of it . Any subtle nuances the song ever had are lost in his 80-words-a-minute typewriter pounding. The problems with the performance are caused by Richard, not Mindi, or by the song itself, which would be lame even if Bocelli performed it..

    i think Richard would do well to help Mindi to discover her own genre (stage and showtunes might be optimal) rather than trying to redo Karen's songs with her, if that's what he's trying to do. Most people would come up short in a head-to-head comparison with Karen Carpenter. Why set one's child up for failure ? If Richard is determined to do songs he did with Karen, A) surely he could find several that would be better than "Little Altar Boy," and B) if he must have Mindi sing "Little Altar Boy," at least do it at the tempo it was presumably intended to be performed, as in the arrangement with Karen, rather than "Little Altar Boy on Meth."

    Richard's appearance prompts me to say that while he still looks dorky as he always did, he doesn't look all that old, and he's got to be getting up there in years. He's aged well and is a well-preserved dork.

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    1. My first reaction to her voice was that it wasn't that good, either. But then I started thinking about it and I could totally hear her singing a song like "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof, or some other show that requires someone with a distinctive voice. When you hear her introduce the song, though, you can almost tell that even she thinks it's kind of a lame choice for her. It could be they did it because the Japanese loved The Carpenters so much.

      I actually love the way Karen sings this song, even though the lyrics are kind of cheesy. It's the melody I like and Karen's emotional reading. But the words are dripping with schmaltz.

      Richard, unfortunately, seems to be having a tough time since Karen died. He has made a career of repackaging and remastering Carpenters' music rather than coming up with new stuff by himself or with others.

      He does look good for his age, though… 67.

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    2. "My initial thought was that she didn't have a very pleasant voice, but i decided I was wrong"

      ---You mean not delicate.

      "i think Richard would do well to help Mindi to discover her own genre (stage and showtunes might be optimal) rather than trying to redo Karen's songs with her, if that's what he's trying to do."

      ---Yea, maybe she's like her parents.

      "Why set one's child up for failure ?"

      ---That's what happened to me, honey.

      About Richard Carpenter, he's hardly a dork, which can only be a good thing, if you know what I mean.

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  2. Is there anything wrong with asking about famous people like Ellen DeGeneres why they detest fans? I felt rejected and publicly humiliated. I feel that way for asking, as well. They do not feel excited nor giddy about meeting those who want to meet them, it seems. They might expect them to show up online like us. Like, advertise it all over, that's the only way, like seeing a movie. I'm ready to meet famous people, alas. I've been online hiding away for years, though. I can sense these things in the wind.

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    1. Mindy Carpenter,of course she doesn't have the voice of her aunty Karen. I believe if Mindy sings her own style, maybe it come out better, and of course Karen Carpenter, she was the first that we listen the song of Little Altar Boy. However, I miss the Carpenters.

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    2. I don't think anyone is disputing that.

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    3. Training may be in order A good coach might help.

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  3. Interesting comments, Christina. I'm sure it must be tough to be the child of a famous person, especially if you want to be in the "family business". People will always make unfair comparisons and have expectations. I admire Mindi's guts for putting herself out there. She does have talent and a voice of her own, which is a good thing.

    As for Richard, I have nothing but respect for his piano playing abilities. But he does come across as a bit uptight.

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    1. People need to understand the fact that other people can be just like family easily and that children are often the opposite of their parents.

      Yea, the kids take to both parents in an aligned way. They probably have a yearning to be like other kids. That cute girl Traci.. she seems pretty well-to-do.. It's interesting how the younger 1s are more connected to their parents. The oldest 1 has black hair, and the rest have light hair. Do you know for a fact if kids take to a mother or father more? It seems to be both or different by person. As far as meeting my needs, I was more like my mom just because I was a girl. As for my ethnicity, it seems more from my dad. It seems it just depends on the person and who the parents are.

      It seems like Mindi might have been trying to impress both parents, like she has her dad under her belt but is trying to find out who she is from her mom. She's a sweet girl. She was so happy to be by her dad and I guess has a cool mom and sisters and brother. It's just funny when you connect to people who have families. Simply they are into "what" and not so much aligning like who who is in your life. That's how I felt also about Tim Burton and his family,

      As far as her voice and her dad, I mean she could really go somewhere. I wonder if people get too close to Richard and his family is less close in a way. I think that's a main wonder of mine. I guess since they are in the same family they don't have to worry about not getting close so much LOL.

      Yea, he is a great pianist. It's funny, guess he is known for his accompanying his sister and ability to do music as a Carpenter. He is uptight. It reminds me of Tim Burton, of whom I am still a fan of course. I wonder if it's because he is English. I do feel sorry for him. I don't blame him for anything with his sister, not as you would consider it. There's more to say on this, too, I think.

      Thanks so much for sharing the video of the choir. I didn't know Richard was playing with these people. I used to be in a choir like that and think they did a very good job, look like they are in 8th grade.

      Also, yea, Mindi has a nice voice. It's funny Richard doesn't have the getup to do this with more people.. Mindi would have more to do if he did this. :/ I get up and sing most days each week it seems, and I do popular songs I know.

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    2. Hi Christina,

      I'd like to write a longer response than I'm going to, but I am currently on vacation in the Azores and typing on an iPad, which makes writing much kind of difficult. I prefer using my bulky desktop when I write.

      I started singing again last year after a break... I have musical parents and never got involved with music until I was 18... Or, I did, but not formally, because my parents were into it and I wanted to do my own thing.

      It wasn't until I started studying music that I realized how much it's in my blood. Maybe it's the same for Mindi. I hope she finds her own way in music and develops a style of her own. She deserves to. Although I think a lot of singers have their idols whom they emulate, I think a major part of development happens when a singer blossoms into their own style... And then, if they are really good, people start to emulate them.

      I don't think Mindi could sound like Karen even if she tried... So why shouldn't she embrace her own sound and her own songs? And use that distinctive voice to promote her style. You're right. She could go places.

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    3. I took a break, too. I was a singer with great potential in 2004-2005 when I started college in music. My life became a monitored sort of experiment.. I grew lazy and unable to succeed in school.

      Since I was tricked online to being hated for something stupid.. I started posting my karaokes I started to record. It gave me something to do, if you will. Now, I label all my videos with a note that I didn't know if it was legal, just in case.

      You do seem like a nice-looking girl with music in her heart and soul.. I was more of a prodigy than a musically inclined personality, if you will. I was asked to do different things but not like all the time like I was also in band a lot. I went up north to an organ workshop for teens and we all laughed at every other instrument. I was kicked outta singing in college for being shy, too.

      My dad is like that I guess, doesn't set me up to be a winner but always wants to be there to stimulate me, though I grew up being picky to his touch..

      I know my dad lets me talk about him. He was a champion in martial arts, was in the same event as I think either Bruce Lee or the other world famous martial artist, Billy Blancs? I think the 1st.. He had a band where they played popular music and he was rhythm. The funny thing is I'm learning the notes 1 by 1. He sings alone at least now I know, started up again around 2000 I think. He acted like he wanted to start piano when I did, hope he does.. if he really wants that. :/

      Yes, I am hoping to go to college even if I'm famous to study opera, which is 4 years, sounds like fun! though I'm too old now. There is also dance, which I think I will do. Ballet. It will broaden the options I have in what I do I guess.. I'm also trying to get famous in a movie via Explore Talent and local agencies if they accept me ever..

      I'm a pretty active singer and could outsing most anyone or at least used to. Mindi doesn't seem to be interested in singing so much as enjoying having a talented, loving dad. His family does seem warped. I could not imagine being related to them. Obviously, saying so, I am still a fan. I think my parents just wanted me to be a good weight and size with neat hair and no attitude.. I was pretty slender. With my brother around, though, coupled with nothing to do, I seemed to pop my belt buckle.

      Well, I started being active ever since I could remember. I wanted to sing when I was 5 and got to do so at 7 and was in choir|s most of my life and some band with keyboard skills..

      I did some private lessons including a year at college.

      I didn't know opera to be angelic until now, too.. :|

      I think Mindi would be a good friend and she'd probably be happy on Twitter.

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  4. Mindi Carpenter, at best, is an average teenage singer. She sings off key; in fact, she is all over the place. She enunciates her words too much. She also cannot hit the low notes properly. I do not think she is any different than any other teenage singer except that her aunt was Karen Carpenter, which, obviously, is tainting people's view of Mindi. If she was not Karen's niece, I do not think anyone would find her voice appealing.

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    1. You may be right, although for some reason, people are fascinated with this post. This post has attracted all kinds of curiosity.

      Like I said, I don't think she sounds like Karen at all... but I could see her playing a character in a musical. Also, remember she's young and voices develop, especially with training.

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    2. A quick correction: Mary was NOT adopted. They are cousins by blood.

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    3. You mentioned that before, but I don't know you and I got the information that Mary was adopted from an authorized source. Until I get information from another authorized source that she's a blood relation, I am not changing the post.

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    4. I love her voice! She is singing and what are yall doing.... it may not have been the best choice for her... but I enjoyed her range.

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  5. I agree mindi don't sound like Karen at all and you kind of wonder with all Richard talent he only had one solo album after Karen died dedicated to his mom now he is doing nothing but remastering the carpenter music he would do better if he worte more music for him slef for those of us who want to here it and he is now 68

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  6. Mary is NOT adopted. That was just a cover story. She is Richard's full blood cousin - The daughter of Paul and Bernice Rudolph from Baltimore.

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    1. I know the family. Read the book "Little Girl Blue" by Randy L. Schmidt for your proof.

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    2. I read that book. Wasn’t all that impressed, because I noticed at least one passage was pretty much lifted from Ray Coleman’s 90s era book. Anyway, Richard and Mary obviously have had a successful marriage.

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  7. She has a nice strong voice. She has not developed soft nuance as it will take time. She is well suited for musical theater I think.

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    1. Yes, and keep in mind that this video is a few years old. By now, she may have developed her voice more.

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  8. Some things to consider here: 1) this was a performance for the Japanese. Not exactly a fair comparison to place this in a western perspective. 2) I don't think anyone seriously was expecting a Karen clone. This is more a curiosity about Richard, his family, and what he's up to currently. 3) Richard actually seems much more relaxed and "himself" here than ever before; he doesn't seem "uptight" at all. 4) Mindi seems to be developing her own style and identity as a singer. It's still raw and developing (her deliberate annunciations seem as if she is being trained and takes this lesson too deliberately and overcompensating for being criticized for not annunciating enough). Also, keep in mind, allowing her to develop her own style might be what Richard learned from Karen's troubles; too much control can be a bad thing. 5) Her choice of song may be because she likes it and felt most comfortable singing this song in front of a group. Considering all this, I enjoyed watching this. She did a great job, has a pleasant and distinct voice, and I was left satisfied seeing what Richard is up to recently and how his family is doing.

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    1. Thanks for the comment. Actually, I think a lot of people probably do wonder if Mindi sounds like Karen. This post attracts an unbelievable number of hits and I have doubts that it's simply because people are curious about Richard. You may be right that people are curious about Richard's family, though.

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  9. I came across this thread after viewing a special about the Carpenters on WPT. I was browsing for updates on Richard. Wow! Some of these hyper critical comments! Christina you seem to need to let others know of your "talent". Those who overly criticize others, usually are insecure themselves.

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    1. Thanks for your input. Christina doesn't hang around here anymore and I strongly suspect she might be mentally ill.

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  10. Wow, I don't care about the audience factor, I don't think care if Richard Showcase his piano abilities which he has always had, a great pianist improves with age. But my God there is no shame in saying that Mindi does have her aunt's vocal tones but she does also have a lower register to add. She is an amazing singer. I closed my eyes a d at the upper notes ixanhear Karen in her vocal box, sounds funny, ut; then she goes to a deep voice which I never heard Jaren singing. Maybe she could have I'm just stating I never heard her do those alto/soprano or possibly baritone vocals. As Fleetwood Mac write, I hope she goes her own way, if she wants to be known for just Mindi, I say she can do that. Woukd beach shame to date if none ever gets to heart hat God sent or given voice to the world.

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  11. Mary was not adopted. A 5 minute ancestry search shows it. If you can't tell by looking at them that she is not adopted, you have issues. It speaks to the odd family dynamics that Richard would marry his first cousin. Even if she were adopted, that would be extremely weird. The siblings grew up with another cousin who looks exactly like Karen's mother. They never talked about her even though she was raised by them in the same house.

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    1. The official story is that she was adopted. I'm sticking to the official story. If you want to believe otherwise, that's up to you.

      I don't have issues. I simply don't care that much about this topic anymore. Richard and Mary have five adult children who seem to be fine. That's all that should matter.

      I don't disagree with you that their family dynamics were kind of "weird", though.

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