The definitive biography of one of the most enduring and endeared recording artists in history—the Carpenters—told for the first time from the perspective of Richard Carpenter through never-before-seen photographs and exclusive interviews.

After becoming multi-million selling, Grammy-winning superstars with their 1970 breakthrough hit song "(They Long to Be) Close to You," Richard and Karen Carpenter would go on to win over millions of fans worldwide with a record-breaking string of hits.

As the Carpenters reached their U.S. career peak in early 1974, both Richard and Karen were paying the price of success. Years of jam-packed work schedules, hundreds of days touring, and a lacking support system made it impossible for the Carpenters to keep the hits coming—and, ultimately, to keep the music playing at all. Through it all, Richard and Karen never took their adoring public, or each other, for granted.

In Carpenters: The Musical Legacy, Richard Carpenter tells that story for the first time, with heart and humor, shedding new light on the story of the Carpenters, whose work remains the gold standard for melodic pop, while setting the record straight. This beautifully illustrated definitive biography, with exclusive interviews and never-before-seen photographs, is a must-have for any Carpenters fan.