9. Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter’s career began with her brother Richard in the popular duo the Carpenters. She started out as a drummer in the group, but she soon began singing full-time for the band when record companies heard her angelic voice.
Nobody imitated her or even emulated her style, which speaks to the respect she had in the music industry. Carpenter’s life was cut short and she died at the age of 32 due to complication from anorexia nervosa, but her legacy lives on to this day.
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