Karen Carpenter/Ella Fitzgerald medley, recorded for "Music,Music,Music
At the time of their 1980 collaboration on The Carpenters: Music, Music, Music television special, both Karen Carpenter and Ella Fitzgerald were navigating deeply contrasting personal and professional phases in their lives—one nearing the tragic end of her short career, the other gracefully managing late-career challenges. Karen Carpenter/Ella Fitzgerald medley, recorded for "Music,Music,Music Karen Carpenter in 1980 Karen was 29 years old and in the midst of a critical period marked by both artistic ambition and serious health struggles. The Music, Music, Music special was one of three TV variety shows the Carpenters did for ABC, showcasing Karen’s musical versatility and her desire to move beyond the image of a pop ballad singer. She had always dreamed of becoming a jazz vocalist, and this special—particularly her duet with Ella Fitzgerald—was one of the few public moments where she fulfilled that ambition. Behind the scenes, however, Karen’s battle with anorexia nervosa h...