Photos by Glenda S. Paradee

The Carpenters Legacy Show was held on November 19, 2022, at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts in Gilbert, Arizona.

It was an awesome show.  The music brought back wonderful memories.  Sally's voice was beautiful, just like Karens.  Sally is an amazing talented performer, so is Ned.  They were fantastic.  They really channeled the energy and spirit of Karen and Richard Carpenter. 

Direct from Las Vegas, Carpenters Legacy: A Re-creation of the 1976 UK Tour is the definitive show celebrating the music and legacy of the famed brother-sister duo. Starring Sally Olson as Karen Carpenter and Ned Mills as Richard Carpenter, the show is a re-creation of the Carpenters' 1976 live performances, featuring hits including “We’ve Only Just Begun”, “Yesterday Once More”, “Superstar”, Karen’s drum solo, Richard's classical piano feature, a Spike Jones parody of "Close To You", comedy antics and much more. The show opens with a zesty tribute to Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass.

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Randy Schmidt, author of Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter, says “Sally’s tribute to Karen Carpenter is heartfelt and honest” and John Katsilometes of Las Vegas Review-Journal has lauded the show as “musically sound, vocally spot-on, and will please any fans of the duo.” Sam Novak of Vegas 411 says, “Sally Olson and Ned Mills perfectly embody Karen and Richard Carpenter. Carpenters Legacy is nothing short of astounding.” Sally is truly unsurpassed in her startling representation of Karen Carpenter, including authentic hairstyles, vintage costumes, gestures, and stunning voice.

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Carpenters Legacy maintains a Las Vegas residency at The Modern Showroom at Alexis Park Resort. The show has played to performing arts centers, cabarets spaces including the famed Triad Theater in NYC, and SOLD OUT showrooms in Las Vegas and all over the country. Carpenters Legacy was featured at the Carpenters 50th Anniversary Celebration in Thousand Oaks, CA in April 2019. Olson is the first-ever and only Karen Carpenter tribute artist to perform with the world-renowned Las Vegas based revue Legends In Concert. Carpenters Legacy was nominated in five entertainment categories for the 2021 Best of Las Vegas/Las Vegas Review-Journal Awards and was voted "Best Impersonator” (Bronze Winner.) Carpenters Legacy features a powerful live band, historical commentary, lovely arrangements and video, taking audiences on an incredible journey down memory lane into the world of the Carpenters – the world’s ONLY authentic Carpenters tribute in sight and sound.

SALLY OLSON  - Artistic Director/Lead Vocals/"Karen Carpenter"

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Sally was born in Rutland, Vermont and is a cum laude graduate of Middlebury College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Studio Art and French. Sally also attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Florence Academy of Art in Italy and the acclaimed Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC. She has been acting and singing since childhood and has performed in numerous local and regional commercials, film, theatre and live music events. Sally starred in the commercial Emily’s Bridge for Heritage Automotive Group, written and produced by Mt. Mansfield Media, which was awarded the Vermont Association of Broadcaster's “Television Agency Produced Most Creative Commercial” of 2011. She also starred in Widow, directed by Michael Fisher, an award-winning short film that was praised at both the Green Mountain Film Festival and the White River Indie Film Festival in 2010. Sally also appeared on the CBS television series HACK (episode #36  "One for My Baby"), directed by Chad Lowe and starring David Morse and Andre Braugher in 2004.

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For more than seven years, the Vermont native has immersed herself in all things Carpenters. Sally was the managing director of a voice studio in South Burlington, VT from 2009 to 2018. Carpenters Legacy debuted in January 2015. In April 2017, Sally made her NYC debut at the famed Triad Theater on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. While in the city, Sally was a special guest on Sunday Night Live Featuring The Late Joey Reynolds on 77 WABC and The Mom & Pop Shop Radio Show with George Bettinger on It’s Right Here in Miramar Radio, as well as being featured on Scott Barbarino's Nite Life Exchange dot com. Sally has also had guest appearances on Burlington, Vermont's Morning Brew ABC 22/Fox 44, Cleveland’s Lakeside Today! WKYC ABC 3, Las Vegas’ GO B Networks Podcast, Vegas Live with Ninon, Las Vegas Morning Blend KTNV ABC 13, The CW Morning Show KSNV News 3 Las Vegas and Dallas’ Good Morning Texas ABC 8 to name a few.

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In late January 2018, Sally made her Las Vegas debut where she first worked with acclaimed pianist and entertainer, Ned Mills. She has since relocated from Burlington, VT to Las Vegas, NV and has performed to SOLD OUT Vegas venues including showrooms at the Starbright Theatre, Freedom Hall Theatre and the CasaBlanca Resort & Casino Showroom. Carpenters Legacy was the featured entertainment for the Carpenters 50th Anniversary Celebration in Thousand Oaks, California in April 2019. Sally is the FIRST-EVER and ONLY Karen Carpenter tribute artist to perform with the world-renowned Las Vegas based review Legends In Concert.

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Randy Schmidt, author of Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter, has said that "Sally's tribute to Karen Carpenter is heartfelt and honest" and Dave Halston of Tribute Masters says “Sally is remarkable, spot-on, and delightfully entertaining.” Sally is truly unsurpassed in her startling representation of Karen Carpenter and captures the essence of the late singer right down to her hairstyles, costumes, makeup, gestures and voice.

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NED MILLS – Musical Director/Arranger/Pianist/Lead & Backup Vocals/"Richard Carpenter"

A versatile pianist, singer, and entertainer, Ned Mills was born in Charleston, South Carolina and began playing piano at the age of four. He's entertained audiences in more than twenty countries and on three continents. After receiving his Bachelor of Music cum laude in Jazz Arranging at North Texas State University, Ned moved back to his native North Carolina and performed regularly throughout the Southeast. Ned has opened for many national acts, including Bobby McFerrin, Don Rickles, Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow. 

He has served as musical conductor and arranger for The Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show, the Ink Spots, and The Shirelles. His arrangements have been performed by the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, The Miss North Carolina Pageant, and in Pizazz starring Debby Boone. He has also performed as pianist for the Rockettes and in Legends In Concert. In 2003, Ned performed "Rhapsody In Blue" at the Liberace Museum on Liberace's famous mirrored piano. His film and TV credits include appearances in Matlock (ABC), Against Her Will : The Carrie Buck Story (Lifetime TV), and the George Lucas film Radioland Murders. He was the piano coach for Halle Berry and Eric Thal in Oprah Winfrey's production of The Wedding (ABC). Now a resident of Las Vegas, Ned performs and serves as musical director for many corporate events at every major casino, including the MGM Grand, The Venetian and Mandalay Bay. In 2000, Ned was voted "Most Likely to Exemplify the Spirit of Las Vegas" by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Ned has his own hit Vegas show called Piano Follies, a tribute to the music of Gershwin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Broadway and more! A little bit of Liberace, Victor Borge,  and Jerry Lee Lewis all rolled up into one talent! Ned (aka "Lionardo") even plays piano and trumpet at the same time!  He currently serves as musical director and plays the role of Richard Carpenter in the Carpenters Legacy starring Sally Olson as Karen Carpenter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CARPENTERS LEGACY, go to: 

https://www.carpenterslegacy.com/

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING SHOW AT THE HIGLEY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, go to: 

 Higley Center - Official Site