Boy George

See also Culture Club. In 2004, Carpenter and his wife pledged a generous $3 Million gift to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Foundation in memory of Karen Carpenter. He has also stated "I have never penetrated a woman in my life.". Today, Richard Carpenter lives with his wife in Thousand Oaks, California and is a prominent supporter of the arts there. (London newspaper, 1984: "I'm not gay, and I'm not a transvestite.") (at other times he has characterized himself as "bisexual", "very confused", "not confused", and "not really all that keen on sex". Both recordings have been honored with Grammy Hall of Fame awards for recordings of lasting quality or historical significance: "We've Only Just Begun" was inducted in 1998, while "Close to You" followed in 2000. 42. In particular, "Close To You" is frequently sung in karaoke bars, while the duo's signature tune, "We've Only Just Begun", continues to be performed at weddings and receptions.

He has also recently appeared as a guest on the British comedy-talk show The Kumars at No. Several of their songs have achieved the status of popular standards. Boy George has also sung "Bow Down Mister" with the Indian songstress Asha Bhosle. A tribute album by contemporary artists also appeared that year and provided an alternative rock interpretation of numerous Carpenters hits. Radio Stations in Britain and the United States have appeared to have placed an unofficial ban on Boy George's new releases but he remains a true global pop icon and successful DJ. A 1994 biography, The Carpenters: The Untold Story, by respected music journalist and biographer Ray Coleman, covered the arc of the duo's career and personal lives. "I used to think she was an icon but she's more i-sore to me now.". A critical reevaluation of the Carpenters' musical output followed during the 1990s, as interest in and appreciation for the duo's recorded work increased.

"I thought she was having a joke," George recalled of the note. A 1989 TV movie, The Karen Carpenter Story, produced with Richard's cooperation, gained favorable notices and reached a wide audience. Madonna was reportedly displeased that George had taken the liberty not only of using her song but of changing the lyrics - to "Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, that Madonna, dyes her hair.". Although numerous critics found Karen's portrayal to be sympathetic, the film depicted the Carpenter family in an unflattering light, and Richard prevailed in pulling the film from distribution on the basis that Carpenters tracks were used on the soundtrack without permission. In April 2002, Madonna wrote a note to George demanding that he remove a modified version of her 1990 song "Vogue" from his West End musical Taboo. In 1987 he intervened to limit the distribution of the Todd Haynes short film Superstar - The Karen Carpenter Story (using Barbie dolls to relate a perspective on Karen's untimely death). In 1998, Boy George began writing a weekly column in The Daily Express and hosted a weekly radio show on the Galaxy Radio Network. His dedication to protecting the Carpenters' image and recording legacy has sparked criticism from some quarters, as Richard has insisted on substantial project oversight as the price for his cooperation in any documentary or drama focusing on them.

Later that year, the band had a Top Ten hit in the UK with "I Just Wanna Be Loved". Following Karen's death, Richard Carpenter has continued to produce recordings of the duo's music, including several albums of previously unreleased material and numerous compilation albums. The following month, the band appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and made an appearance in Britain, their first in 14 years. The years of dieting and abuse proved too much strain on her heart, however, and on February 4, 1983, Karen suffered cardiac arrest at her parents' home in Downey and was pronounced dead at Downey Memorial Hospital at the age of only 32. In July 1998, a reunited Culture Club performed three dates in Monte Carlo and then joined Human League and Howard Jones in a "Big Rewind" tour of the US. In 1982, Karen sought therapy with noted psychotherapist Steven Levenkron in New York City for her disorder and returned to California later that year determined to regain her professional career. Roy Hay, the band's keyboard and guitar player now says "I didn't want to go there! I wanted to be in a rock group&emdash;not a bloody gay drama.". Personal troubles, however, dimmed the prospects of this modest return to the charts, as Karen suffered a failed marriage and the ongoing effects of her anorexia.

At the time, the other band members denied knowing about their secret affair, despite many of the band's lyrics being aimed at Moss, especially the songs "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" and "Karma Chameleon." However, in retrospect, they admit it was more a case of not wanting to accept it. (The solo LP remained unreleased until 1996.) Their LP Made in America, released in 1981, spawned a final top 20 hit single, "Touch Me When We're Dancing". He alleged that Moss had broken off his engagement to be with George, but Moss was never comfortable with the relationship. The resulting product, however, met a tepid response from Richard and A&M executives in early 1980, and Karen wavered in her dedication to the project. Ultimately, she abandoned the solo effort in favor of launching a new LP with her brother, now fully recovered from his addiction. In his book, George also told his side of his secret relationship with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss. Her choice of more adult-oriented and dance-tempo material represented an effort to retool their image. After the verdict, however, he said that he now feels nothing for Brandon, whose "lies" had hurt a number of people. Karen, meanwhile, decided to pursue a solo album project with renowned producer Phil Ramone in New York.

During the trial, Boy George had claimed that Kirk Brandon had been the love of his life and that he still loved him. Richard sought treatment for his addiction at a Topeka, Kansas, facility in early 1979. O'Dowd was clearly not malicious in stating that which he knew to be true...the allegations of malice are quite hopeless and should never have been brought.". and Japan. Richard, meanwhile, developed an addiction to Quaaludes, which began to affect his performance in the late 1970s and led to the end of the duo's live concert appearances in 1978. In court, tears filled Boy George's eyes when Justice Brown said, "Mr. Karen dieted obsessively and developed the disorder anorexia nervosa, which first manifested itself in 1975, when an exhausted and emaciated Karen was forced to cancel concert tours in the U.K. The judge told Brandon that although he felt him to be a decent and talented man, that he felt Brandon had lied about his relationship with George. By the mid-1970s, extensive touring and lengthy recording sessions had begun to take their toll on the duo and contributed to their professional difficulties during the latter half of the decade.

He is not prepared, as observers have noted, to "Take It Like a Man.". (A second Christmas collection, An Old Fashioned Christmas, was released in 1984 after Karen's death.) Their television specials also garnered solid ratings and kept them before the public eye during the late 1970s. He'll try again rather than accepting the judge's decision. A second Singles album (covering the years 1974-1978) was released in the U.K., while in the States, their 1978 holiday album, A Christmas Portrait, proved an exception to their faltering career at home and became a seasonal favorite. Even so, he says, he's not through suing. Despite their disappointing performance on domestic charts, the Carpenters continued to enjoy enormous popularity. Brandon, currently without funds, now owes 200,000 pounds for representing himself in court against Boy George and three publishers: Virgin Records, EMI Virgin Music and Sidgwick and Jackson. charts, and the album failed to cross the gold threshold of 500,000 copies sold in the States.

The witnesses said they'd seen the two behaving happily like "a couple", and the trial judge found such testimony to be "overwhelming evidence" that there had been, in fact, such a relationship. Although the single release of "Calling Occupants" became a top ten hit in the U.K., it stalled at number 32 on the U.S. In this period, Boy George was 19-20 years old. The most notable tracks included cover versions of "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" (from the rock opera Evita), and Klaatu's "Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft", both complete with choral and orchestral accompaniment. George's witnesses testified that Brandon and he had conducted what was called "a brief, passionate and turbulent physical homosexual affair" in the months between 1980-81. The LP featured an unlikely mix of Latin rock, calypso, and pop, and included the Top 40 hit "All You Get From Love is a Love Song". Justice Douglas Brown found Brandon's testimony unconvincing. Their more experimental album, Passage, released in 1977, marked an attempt to broaden their appeal by venturing into other musical genres.

The irate accuser insisted that although the two young men had shared a bed for a time, there had been no erotic activity between them as is said in the book. The follow-up single, the Carpenter-Bettis song "I Need to Be in Love" charted no higher than 25, while the novelty song "Goofus" failed to reach the Top 40 entirely. George, taking the witness stand, faced a "malicious falsehood" charge brought against him by Brandon, now married and a father, who denied that he once had a sexual relationship with George. The duo's highest charting single that year was a cover of Herman's Hermits' "There's a Kind of Hush", which peaked at number 12. It was well known around the late '70s punk scene just how 'close' the pair really were, although Brandon was never comfortable with that side of his sexuality. Their singles releases in 1976 likewise followed a pattern of diminishing returns. Friends and family who knew both men during that time, admit that Brandon was being ridiculous. The LPs Horizon and A Kind of Hush, released in 1975 and 1976 respectively, achieved "gold" status but failed to peak as high as previous efforts.

In it, George spoke of his relationship with Kirk Brandon, singer with Spear of Destiny, who began a High Court action against George. Both singles appeared on the LP Horizon, which also included covers of The Eagles' "Desperado" and Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire", which became a moderate hit for the duo that year. Harper Collins published the autobiography of Boy George, Take It Like A Man, in 1995. Later that spring the pair scored a final top five hit with the Carpenter-Bettis song "Only Yesterday". In August 1994 a British court tossed out a paternity suit filed against Boy George by a California woman. charts in January 1975, becoming the duo's third and final number one single. George has been reported by fans who have met him in person to be an avid autograph signer. Released in late 1974, the single soared to #1 on the U.S.

During 2003 he presented a weekly show on London's LBC radio for 6 months. Postman". This musical has been a huge success in London's West End. In early 1975 the Carpenters scaled the charts with a remake of the Marvelettes' hit "Please Mr. He once again started touring the world as a DJ in the late 1990s and starred in the London musical Taboo. In late 1974 a Christmas single followed, a jazz-influenced rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town". Boy George continues to remain a global pop icon and one of the world's most successful music DJ's, despite radio stations around the world (especially US & Britain) giving him little play thus limiting the impact of his new music. charts.

From that album, he released his version of the Iggy Pop song "Funtime", which coincided with his autobiography Take It Like A Man. Instead the pair chose for single release the Williams-Nichols composition, "I Won't Last a Day Without You." Originally recorded as an album track for 1972's Song for You LP, the single version became the fifth and final selection from that album project to chart in the Top 20, reaching #11 on the U.S. He then produced Cheapness And Beauty a few years later. As a result, the Carpenters did not issue a new album in 1974. In 1992, George saw a resurgence in his career with his cover version of the song "The Crying Game", which was featured on the movie of the same name and was a top twenty hit in the US. Extensive touring in 1973-74 left the duo with little time for recording new material. Much of Jesus Loves You's material was life-celebrating stuff, including the hit "Bow Down Mister", which was attributed to George's belief in the Hare Krishna movement. In 1973, the Carpenters were voted Best Band, Duo, or Group (Pop/Rock) at the first annual American Music Awards.

In 1989, George formed his own label, named More Protein, and a band named Jesus Loves You, a tribute to the Christianity that helped him overcome his drug problem. The recording industry, however, bestowed awards on the duo, who won three Grammy Awards during their career (including Best New Artist, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus, for "Close to You" in 1970; and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for the LP Carpenters in 1971). Many of his following releases were produced to protest the UK's anti-homosexual bill of Clause 28. With their output focused on ballads and mid-tempo pop, the duo's music was often dismissed by critics as bland and "saccharine". At the same time, Culture Club was dissolved, and his solo hit "Everything I Own" became a No.1 hit in the UK. The Carpenters' popularity often confounded critics. He finally quit using heroin in 1987, after an ultimatum was given to him by his doctor: either he'd stop using drugs, or he'd die in less than three months. In May 1973 the Carpenters accepted an invitation to perform at the White House for President Richard Nixon and visiting West German chancellor Willy Brandt.

George had recently collapsed on stage at a benefit concert. In 1971 the duo appeared in a television special on the BBC in the United Kingdom and were the featured performers in a summer replacement series, Make Your Own Kind of Music, which aired on NBC-TV in the U.S. His brother went on UK national television and blew the whistle on him, in a desperate attempt to get him to leave the world of drugs. Among their numerous television credits were appearances on such popular series as American Bandstand, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, and the Carol Burnett Show. During this time also, he became a drug addict, and an American friend who was visiting his London mansion was found dead after a night of using heroin. To promote their recordings, the Carpenters maintained a staggering schedule of concert tours and television appearances during this period. His sexual lifestyle became the target of much tabloid newspaper speculation, and eventually he stated he was simply gay. Several of his compositions with lyricist John Bettis became hit records, including "Goodbye to Love", "Yesterday Once More", and "Top of the World".

For a long time George denied his homosexuality, then later declared himself to be bisexual. To his role as vocalist, keyboardist, and arranger, Richard added that of composer on numerous tracks. But with all that success, trouble also loomed. The duo produced a distinctive sound featuring Karen's expressive contralto on lead vocals, with both siblings contributing background vocals that were overdubbed to create densely layered harmonies. In 1986, he guest-starred on an episode of The A-Team titled "Cowboy George.". During the first half of the 1970s, the Carpenters' music was a staple of Top 40 playlists. They arrived 12 hours after everyone else, meaning that George was the last to record his vocals and they were absent from the official Band Aid photograph. alone.

The band flew in on Concorde from New York especially for the recording at the SARM studios. and the United Kingdom and became one of the bestselling albums of the decade, ultimately selling more than 7,000,000 copies in the U.S. At the end of 1984, George appeared, orange-haired, on the Band Aid single to benefit Ethiopia's children, performing the second line of the song after Paul Young sang the first. A greatest hits LP, titled The Singles: 1969-1973, topped the charts in the U.S. It turned out to be a Boy George lookalike contest winner from Chicago, who was enjoying his award: a trip to Puerto Rico. "Top of the World", an album selection on the Song for You LP, was covered by country artist Lynn Anderson, became a word-of-mouth hit and was re-recorded for single release in 1973, reaching number one on the Top 40 late that year. Members of the press believed him to be Boy George, causing one of Puerto Rican press largest bloopers ever. A string of hit singles and albums kept the Carpenters on the charts through the early 1970s, including "For All We Know", "Rainy Days and Mondays", and "Superstar" (all from the LP, Carpenters) in 1971; "Hurting Each Other", "It's Going to Take Some Time", and "Goodbye to Love" (from the LP, A Song for You) in 1972; "Sing" and "Yesterday Once More" (from the LP, Now and Then) in 1973.

In 1983, a Boy George look-alike caused a sensation when he arrived at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The single scored high on the holiday charts in 1970 and made repeat appearances on the charts in subsequent years. Along with Diana Princess of Wales he was the most photographed person on the planet. The duo rounded out the year with a holiday release, "Merry Christmas Darling", which Richard co-wrote with Frank Pooler, who had been the duo's choral director at Long Beach State. By 1984 Boy George's fame was so widespread and immense that he became a household name in over 25 countries. A follow-up recording, "We've Only Just Begun" (written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols), reached #2 to become the duo's second major hit in the fall of 1970, and helped catapult the album featuring both hits (titled Close to You) to bestseller status. Part of his unique appeal was attributed to his wit and charisma; he is responsible for one of the 1980s' most famous quotes - I prefer a nice cup of tea to sex - and his distinctive, soulful voice. The Carpenters achieved their breakthrough in 1970 with the release of the Burt Bacharach-Hal David song, "(They Long to Be) Close to You", which rose to #1 and stayed atop the charts for four weeks.

He became a sort of alternative teen idol, and had the extravagant lifestyle to go with it. The most significant track on the album, though, was a ballad rendition of The Beatles' hit "Ticket to Ride", which soon became a minor hit for the Carpenters, and the LP was subsequently retitled Ticket to Ride with somewhat improved sales. George's striking looks inspired many a Boy George look-alike contest around the world, and George's face became the image of Culture Club in many fans' minds. Their initial LP, titled Offering, featured numerous selections that Richard had written or co-written during their Spectrum period. The corresponding album, "Colour By Numbers", was a massive seller and spawned a fourth and final single, "It's A Miracle" in early 1984. They sent out demo tapes and eventually attracted the attention of Herb Alpert, who signed the duo to his label, A&M Records, in 1969. In 1983, the band had their biggest year, dominating the singles charts with "Church Of The Poison Mind"; "Karma Chameleon" (the biggest selling single of the year, which had six weeks at No.1) and "Victims". After Spectrum folded, the Carpenters decided to continue as a duo, with Richard on keyboards, Karen on drums, and both contributing vocals.

This was followed by "Time (Clock Of The Heart)" and the debut album "Kissing To Be Clever". Nevertheless, the experience proved rewarding for the siblings, as Richard found a lyricist for his original compositions in fellow Spectrum member John Bettis. The band's breakthrough hit in the UK was "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?", which enjoyed wide exposure on the music station, MTV. Although the new group landed club dates at such venues as the Whisky A Go-Go, no record deal was forthcoming. Shortly after, Adam Ant drummer Jon Moss and guitarist Roy Hay came into the mix, and they changed the name of the band to Culture Club. Richard and Karen next teamed with four other student musicians from Long Beach State to form the sextet Spectrum. Although George and Lwin's act didn't last long, it did introduce George to former DJ Mikey Craig, with whom he created a duo named In Praise Of Lemmings, with Craig playing bass guitar. The label chose not to release their songs, however, and doubting their commercial potential, RCA soon dropped the trio.

George's androgynous style caught the attention of music executive Malcolm McLaren, who arranged for George to appear as Lieutenant Lush in a theater concert with Annabella Lwin. Winning the Hollywood Bowl "Battle of the Bands" in 1966, the trio was picked up by the RCA label. During the early part of the 1980s, George became a common figure on the London club scene. During this period, the pair, joined by bassist friend Wes Jacobs, formed the Richard Carpenter Trio, a jazz instrumental group. As a teenager, he began experimenting with cross-dressing in a feminine style, often using long hair and make-up, a fact that did not seem to bother his family. The resulting single included two of Richard's compositions, "Looking for Love" and "I'll Be Yours", but the label soon folded, bringing this promising start to a close. George O'Dowd grew up in an Irish Catholic household in South London with four brothers and one sister. Asked to sing, Karen performed and landed a short-lived recording contract as a solo artist with Osborn's flegling label Magic Lamp.

George, the son of a builder and his wife, was born in Eltham, London, England. bassist Joe Osborn, where Richard was to accompany an auditioning vocalist. George Alan O'Dowd (born June 14, 1961), better known as Boy George, is a famous bisexual singer and musician who reached fame with his group Culture Club in the 1980s. In May 1966 Karen joined Richard in attending a late night session in the garage studio of L.A. ISBN 1903258162. During the mid to late 1960s, the two attempted to launch a musical career but failed to gain a successful recording deal until the decade's end. London: Carroll & Brown. Karen, meanwhile, did not manifest her musical talents until high school, when she joined the band and soon mastered the drums.

George, Boy and Brown, Draganna (2001) Karma Cookbook. The move to southern California was intended in part to foster his budding musical career. ISBN 1844133907. Richard had developed his interest in music at an early age, becoming a piano prodigy. London: Century. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, (Richard on October 15, 1946, and Karen on March 2, 1950), the Carpenter siblings moved with their parents to California in 1963 and settled in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey. George, Boy (2005) Straight. With their brand of melodic pop, they charted a score of hit recordings on the American Top 40, becoming leading exponents of the "soft rock" or adult contemporary genre and ranking among the foremost recording artists of the decade.

London: Harpercollins. ISBN 0060173688. The Carpenters were a 1970s vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter. Bright, Spencer and George, Boy (1995) Take It Like a Man: Autobiography of Boy George. Ray Coleman; The Carpenters: The Untold Story; Harper Collins Publishers; ISBN 0-06-018345-4 (1st edition, paperback, 1994). Taboo (2004) soundtrack. BoyGeorgeDJ.Com (2003).

In and Out With Boy George: A DJ Mix (2002). U Can Never B 2 Straight (2002). A Night Out (2002). Galaxy Mix (1999) compilation.

Everything I Own (1999). Unrecoupable One Man Bandit (1998). Cheapness and Beauty (1995). Devil in Sister (1994).

At Worst: The Best of Boy George and Culture Club (1993) compilation. Spin Dazzle (1992). The Martyr Mantras (1990). High Hat (1989).

Boyfriend (1989). Tense Nervous Headache (1988). Sold (1987).