Last Surviving Carpenters Member Richard Carpenter Is Now a Dad of 5 at 76 after He Wed Adopted Cousin

Richard Carpenter is now famous, but before then, he was a member of the vocal and instrumental duo known as the Carpenters. The group included his sister, Karen, but sadly, their career was short-lived following her untimely death. The surviving sibling continues to uphold the group's legacy.

The Carpenters were made up of two close siblings, only three years apart in age. However, their talents— Karen's soft bird voice and her brother Richard's bold baritone, were unmatched.

Their music glided across different genres, including soft rock, country, and pop. Yet somehow, they thrilled their listeners with insightful lyrics that always told a story.

Barely a year after their emergence, they got their flowers by winning their first Grammy for the best new artist. Even though they were talented, it felt like it had happened so fast and ushered in a wave of excitement. While recounting their music journey, Richard told Foxnews:

"We weren't known one day and then the next, we were on so many radio stations and our songs were getting repeated airplay that you just kept hearing it over and over. But I still remember that moment when she tugged on my tux."

Through the years, the duo earned two more Grammy awards, garnered fans worldwide, and sold millions of records. Unfortunately, during the height of their career, Richard suffered from an addiction to Quaaludes.

Another big blow hit the group when Karen died suddenly. The songbird died in 1983, at age 32, after she suffered heart failure that developed due to anorexia.

Despite their glory days behind and a tragic incident, the "I Won't Last A Day Without You" star was lucky to have his wife's support.

The singer began dating his first cousin (his mother's sister's daughter), Mary Rudolph, in the 1970s. Mary was adopted, so they were not related by blood. By 1984, shortly after his sister's demise, the pair married and went on to have five kids.

For many years, the surviving Carpenters star turned down questions about his deceased sister. At 75, Richard became ready to zoom the lens on their time as a force in the music industry while focusing on his sister's active years as a performer and their achievements.

The "Close to You" singer partnered with Associated Press journalist Mike Cidoni Lennox and Chris May to write the coffee table book "Carpenters: The Musical Legacy."

Richard recalled their childhood years in New Haven, Connecticut, and how he marveled at Karen's powerfully subtle voice, which made her the perfect lead singer for the group while he supported her with harmonies.

Amid their successes, the record producer admitted that they faced a stumbling block initially, but by being persistent and turning a deaf ear to the naysayers, they survived the critics. He explained:

"So many writers hated us because we represented mainstream America. Forget the music, they just didn't like the idea of us. But we kept pushing forward."

Since his youth, Richard has pushed forward, living to the fullest and appreciating himself while creating the best memories with his family.

Richard Carpenter's Enduring Marriage and Five Kids

To the world, Richard is forever remembered as the last living Carpenters star and a solo entertainer, carrying on the legacy of the extinct group.

Besides sharing the group's old songs, Richard now performs with his kids. Over the years, they have become his bandmates, touring, making music, and performing at various events.

His most fulfilling role, which has been practiced for many years, is as a loving husband to his wife, Mary, and father to their five kids.

Since his glory days, The "Close To You" crooner maintained close ties with his relatives. While he shared a unique bond with his sister, Mark Rudolph, one of his first cousins, served as the Carpenters' road manager.

As mentioned earlier, Richard was romantically involved with Mary, another first cousin, who he married in May 1984. Their first daughter was born on August 17, 1987, and the couple honored Karen by naming their child Kristi Lynn, the name the deceased had hoped to give a daughter.

On July 25, 1989, they welcomed another girl, Traci Tatum. Mindi Karen, daughter number three, joined the growing family on July 7, 1992. On July 20, 1994, the couple had their first son, Collin Paul. Their last baby, Taylor Mary, was born on December 5, 2000.

Expectedly, the longtime family-oriented star shares an enviable relationship with his wife of thirty-eight years. The celebrity couple is supportive of each other and never fails to show their genuine love for each other in photos!

In 2019, while projecting his London trip that involved interviews and work, the singer shared a sweet snap where he stood close to his other half, and their lips parted in wide-eyed-grins. He excitedly quipped:

"For now I am just excited to be here with my beautiful wife!"

Mary is not the only one who enjoys a swell time with her famous husband. More than once, Richard has shown images proving that he loves his children and their company—from birthday posts to gushing about his daughters and beautiful family moments.

The father-of-five wished his fans a happy new year to begin a memorable 2020 by uploading a family-themed post where they all smiled and posed in a house heavily designed with Christmas decorations.

In 2022, the Carpenters gathered for a Thanksgiving celebration. They were joined by a non-relative, Alana, Richard's close friend. The singer noted that this celebration had been a yearly ritual.

Richard Carpenter Is Upholding the "Carpenters" Legacy

Karen may be gone, but her brother is committed to keeping her memory alive. Although her untimely death halted future performances from the duo, Richard continued with his music career, releasing an orchestral and a book about their journey as a duo. Regarding how receptive fans have been to the details published, he stated:

"We still receive several letters from kids – they weren't even born at the time when our music was first played on the radio. And yet they're curious about us. New generations want to learn more about us… The book felt right.

The last surviving Carpenters star continues to thrill fans with his unique voice and lyrics, reminding them the "Carpenters" content will forever live on!