Richard Lynn Carpenter, born on October 15, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as one half of the sibling duo the Carpenters, alongside his younger sister Karen Carpenter. Richard played multiple roles in the Carpenters, including record producer, arranger, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter, and he also joined Karen on harmony vocals.

Richard's early life was steeped in music, influenced by his father's record collection, which introduced him to artists like Perry Como and Ella Fitzgerald. By age 12, Richard knew he wanted to pursue a career in music. His first public performance was at age 16 in New Haven, and after moving to Downey, California, in 1963, he continued to develop his musical skills. Richard graduated from Downey High School in 1964 and studied music at California State College at Long Beach. There, he met significant collaborators, including Frank Pooler and John Bettis.

In 1965, Richard formed the Richard Carpenter Trio with Karen and friend Wes Jacobs. The trio won a Battle of the Bands competition at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966. Richard's career with the Carpenters saw him take on various roles, contributing significantly to their success in the pop music genre. He has been active in the music industry since 1965 and continues to be involved in music-related activities. Richard married Mary Rudolph in 1984 and remains a prominent figure in the music world.