Karen Carpeneter died 42 years ago.

@unclewilbur thanks for the reminder--a dose of Karen is relaxing in these crazy times.  I was lucky to have experienced my first two concerts featuring male and female vocalists as follows (although at the time i didn't really know how lucky i was):

1. First concert---Elvis at the International in Vegas (1970) visiting my best friend who had moved from Laramie and convinced me to go even though i didn't want to-i was an ignorant 18 year old-i never stopped thanking him for that

2. Second concert ever--The Carpenters at A&S Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming (1973)--i think the student price ticket was $2.  I was in love forever.

@unclewilbur I can't remember if there was an orchestra with them or not but i kind of doubt it although there is a pit at the A&S auditorium.  Yes, i heard many of the songs from that album and Yesterday Once More remains my all time favorite of theirs.  I remember Karen had a grade school class come on the stage with her while she sang a song but i don't remember which one it was.  Similar to my Elvis experience though and being more of an Allman Brothers/Skynyrd/James Gang fan, i hadn't planned on going to see them but my girlfriend begged and once again i was forever grateful. Most of today's female vocalists can only dream of having a voice like that.

As for Elvis i still have the program from that show and he was indeed at his height--i've seen many concerts over the years including Stones, Skynyrd, Dead, CSN&Y, Clapton...but i still think Elvis was the greatest entertainer i ever saw--he put everything he had into that show...i still remember all the women lining up to kiss him and give him their panties and bras...

BTW in later years i always wondered why the Carpenters came to Laramie of all places--i guess they were booked at a lot of universities and that's the only one in Wyoming...

@77jovian @grislybutter I'm no vocal expert either; however, many sources say she had a 3 octave range but it was the purity of her contralto that set her apart from other female vocalists and she was once quoted as saying "The money's in the basement".  I also read that Neil Sedaka called her the greatest female pop vocalist of all time but then again i don't know what his credentials are...😀 

@unclewilbur What a great story!  When i saw them it was Denver's Mile Hi Stadium and the hilarious part was that Neil Young (who was not there to perform) was sitting and rocking out on the side of the stage smoking a J (i assume) while they sang "Sweet Home Alabama" -- apparently they had reconciled and Young had apologized for his song Alabama

@grislybutter You win hands down!  Luckily no cellphones back then to memorialize your humiliation. 

My only celebrity encounter was a good one--got to meet and yak with Ian Anderson for about 30 minutes backstage in Caracas, Venezuela after the concer--the organizer was a good buddy.  Ian wouldn't shake hands (said a fan broke his finger once) but i have a great pic and memory--didn't get to meet Martin Barre though--he wouldn't come out of the dressing room...