Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > 'The Carpenters: Close to You' to air on AETN Dec. 5
Posted 30 Nov 2015
'My Music Presents The Carpenters: Close to You,' a music-filled documentary that traces the Carpenters' career through the eyes of Richard Carpenter and the group's friends in the music business, will air on the Arkansas PBS (AETN) Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m.
The film features the Carpenters' top recording hits, including '(They Long to Be) Close to You,' 'Top of the World,' 'For All We Know,' 'Superstar,' 'Yesterday Once More,' 'Rainy Days and Mondays' and 'We've Only Just Begun.'
Between 1970 and 1983, the Carpenters were awarded 10 gold singles and nine gold albums, many of which also achieved multi-platinum status. They won Grammy Awards as Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Vocal group in 1970 and for Album of the Year in 1971. That same year, Karen and Richard hosted the NBC-TV summer series, 'Make Your Own Kind of Music' and later starred in a series of specials on ABC-TV into the 1980s.
Their soundtrack recording of 'Bless the Beasts and Children' was nominated for an Academy Award, and they performed it at the Oscar telecast in 1972. From 1970 to 1981, the Carpenters consistently were represented on the Billboard charts with 17 of their singles in the Pop Top 20, including three No. 1 songs and six songs at No. 2, in addition to 17 songs hitting No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart. The Carpenters became the top American recording act of the 1970s and have sold over 100 million recordings worldwide.
'The Carpenters: Close to You' features interviews with Richard Carpenter in addition to the group's musicians, famous friends and colleagues – particularly those who helped them achieve stardom – including Herb Alpert, Paul Williams, Burt Bacharach and Petula Clark. The program also contains rare footage of Richard and Karen, including never-before-seen promotional films, concert performances, studio recording sessions, archival television appearances and outtakes.
'The Carpenters: Close to You' will repeat Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 12, at 2:30 p.m.
The Arkansas PBS (AETN) is Arkansas's statewide public television network that enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. For more information, visit aetn.org, or follow the AETN blog at aetn.org/engage. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), and KETZ (El Dorado).