Best known as half of the chart-topping 1970s soft rock duo the Carpenters with his sister, Karen, Richard Carpenter contributed smooth vocal harmonies, lush arrangements, and occasional songwriting to Karen's distinctive lead vocals and drums. With light, airy melodies and meticulously crafted arrangements that appealed to a variety of audiences, the Carpenters won four Grammy Awards and scored 12 Top Ten hits. Among their three number one singles was the classic "(They Long to Be) Close to You" off 1970's Close to You. Though their Top 20 streak ended after 1975's Horizon, they continued to make music together until Karen's tragic death in 1983. Richard went on to work as a producer and launched a solo career with 1987's Time. His 1998 instrumental album Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor included reworkings of Carpenters hits, and he focused on solo piano interpretations of their songs for Richard Carpenter's Piano Songbook in 2022.