Karen Kamon
Karen Ichiuji-Ramone (née Ichiuji, May 15, 1951 – March 25, 2020), known by her stage name Karen Kamon, was an American singer and actress.
Karen Kamon | |
---|---|
Birth name | Karen Ichiuji |
Also known as | Karen Ichiuji-Ramone |
Born | USA | May 15, 1951
Died | March 25, 2020 68) USA | (aged
Associated acts | Karen Carpenter |
She is perhaps best known for her performance of "Manhunt" on the soundtrack to the movie Flashdance. In 1984, her recording of "Loverboy" reached #88 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] She also sang "Squeeze Play" on the soundtrack to the movie D.C. Cab and provided character voices for the movie Oliver & Company.
In television, she appeared in one episode of the U.S. TV series T.J. Hooker.
She is listed as a production associate on Karen Carpenter's solo album and credited, on the Carpenters' compilation album Lovelines, as a friend of Karen Carpenter. She was also interviewed for the installment of VH1's series Behind the Music that dealt with "The Carpenters" and appeared in a segment in the VH1 documentary 100 Most Shocking Moments in Rock and Roll History.
Kamon first met music producer Phil Ramone while working as a tour publicist for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1977.[2] Ramone produced the first of two albums in her known discography, Heart of You, in 1984. She was married to him from 1984 until his death in 2013 at the age of 79. They had three children, including Matthew Ramone, general manager of Phil Ramone Incorporated.
On March 25, 2020, it was reported on a Karen Carpenter Facebook site that Kamon had recently died, and reposted onto the A&M forums the following day.[3]
Albums
- 1984: Heart of You – Label: CBS-26017 – included the single "Loverboy," which reached #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
- 1987: Voices – Label: ATCO-90575 (including a cover version of the Russ Ballard classic "Voices")
Soundtrack
- 1983: D.C. Cab: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
- 1983: Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture
External links
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 373. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- "New On The Charts: Karen Kamon". Billboard. August 11, 1984. p. 53.
- "Karen Ramone Passes Away". March 25, 2020.