The Carpenters – Never Forgotten
By Joan S. Peck
For those of you who miss the singing duo of Karen and Richard Carpenter, you are in for a treat. They’re back! This time with Sally Olson as Karen Carpenter and Ned Mills as Richard Carpenter. Carpenters Legacy is the only authentic recreation of the Carpenters’ 1976 UK tour and brings back the magic of vintage Vegas. The show was voted “Best Impersonator” for 2021 Best of Las Vegas awards.
Sally Olson is the Artistic Director/Lead Vocals/”Karen Carpenter” who, with her smooth velvet voice, is so like Karen Carpenter’s that you’ll have goosebumps! Sally is the first-ever and only Karen Carpenter impersonator to perform with Legends In Concert.
Ned Mills as the Musical Director/Arranger/Pianist/Backup Vocals is the perfect match to complete this newly-formed duo sensation.
Their upcoming residency at Modern Showrooms at Alexis Park Resort opens on July 18th. The venue features classic vintage Vegas entertainment with everything from Elvis to Motown. The Modern Showrooms is operated by Admit.VIP and its founder and CEO, Pete Housley. Pete and his team have done an incredible job of re-creating the vintage Vegas aesthetic at their venue.
Given that the Carpenters performed in Las Vegas on various occasions during their heyday in the mid-70s, Modern Showrooms is the perfect home for Carpenters Legacy. The duo will be performing in the Pegasus Showroom Mondays through Thursdays at 8:00 PM. This is the ideal intimate venue to listen to the music that is eerily like the original siblings’ haunting tones.
Karen and Richard Carpenter enjoyed several stints in Las Vegas, including performing at Caesars Palace, The Riviera, and MGM Grand. For those who might not remember the Carpenters, Karen played many instruments but was known for playing the drum, while Richard wrote many of their songs and was her backup vocal. Karen’s three-octave voice became the mainstay of the duo’s performances.
The Carpenters came onto the music scene with a broad audience in 1969 when they signed a contract with A&M Records. Their first single with them, Ticket to Ride, reached no. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their next album, 1970s Close to You, featured two hit singles: They Long to Be Close to You and We’ve Only Just Begun peaking at No. 1 and 2 respectively on the Hot 100. Sally Olson’s performance of these two hits is so like the original that it is breathtaking.
Sally’s hairstyle is authentic vintage Karen Carpenter, as is her clothing style, gestures, and incredible voice. During the show, Sally comes on stage wearing a Lead Sister tee shirt (mistakenly meant at that time to read Lead Singer that stuck) and performs a drum solo. Then, Ned performs a classical piano feature, and as you listen to each, you appreciate their unlimited talent.
Sally and Ned’s feel-good performance shines with the chemistry between them. Add the camaraderie mixed in with humor and classic 70s hits, and you have a fun show you don’t want to miss. You can catch Carpenters Legacy Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 8:00 PM. See it! You’ll be glad you did.
Pegasus Showroom at Modern Showrooms/Alexis Park Resort, 375 E. Harmon Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89169
Tickets: http://www.carpenterslegacy.com or https://www.modernvegas.com/carpenters_legacy