Karen Kristal was born on 18 August 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She was married to Hilly Kristal. She died on 20 May 2014 in New York, New York, USA.
Was the legal owner of CBGB's in NYC throughout the club's entire existence (since 1973), her name was on the liquor license, and she designed the club's iconic logo. She apparently signed the business over to her ex-husband in 2005 though she has no recollection of signing the documents.