31 replies to this topic

[whsoxfan]

Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #48 (April 1976)

Hi Fans,

The long awaited news is now confirmed. The new album "A Kind of Hush" will be released June 11. Karen's lilting voice accompanying Richard's beautiful arrangements is super terrific. Every song is a winner, but my favorite is "I Need to Be in Love" composed by Richard and John Bettis, and was released as a single on May 21. The lovely birthday cards you send for Karen's and Mom Carpenter are sincerely appreciated. They send their combined thanks for your thoughtfulness and generosity. K & R worked on the new album until 3:00 a.m. the morning of their departure for Japan. Ray Gerhardt their sound engineer had put in long hours with K & R, and was looking forward to some relaxation while they were on tour. He was also eager to fully acquaint himself with the new Jaguar K & R had presented him in appreciation of the super engineering work he had done on their albums. Ray was twice nominated for grammy's, on both occasions for his engineering expertise on Carpenter albums. His relaxation dreams were wiped out when last minute plans included him in the trip to Japan to help Gary with Sound equalization. A passport was rushed through, and Ray found himself transported from the studio's Mix-3 to an American Airlines 747. The tour was successful and pleasant, including the one with two mishaps that added more humor to the show and delighted the audience. At concert opening, slides are projected on to a screen showing K & R as infants, toddlers, and teenagers, up to the present time, while Karen stands offstage singing "We've Only Just Begun". At one concert, one of the slides was erroneously shown upside down, and when Karen saw it, she cracked up and laughed so hard that she was unable to complete the songs, and the audience joined in the laughter. Later, at the same performance when she was seated at the drums, the snare drum stand broke and the snare slid kerplunk right into her lap, but the trooper that she is, kept on drumming without missing a beat. Winter weather was reluctant to leave Japan, and during their stay the weather was extremely cold with 98% rain and a little snow. The huge concert halls where they performed were almost impossible to heat, so electric heaters were set on stage facing the group, in spite of which they were chilled to the bone, but hot baths and massages before retiring prevented them from catching colds. Heaters in their dressing rooms kept them comfortable and warm, but outside the dressing rooms they could see their breath, a rare sight for Southern Californians! Always on the alert for ideas or changes to improve their show, they videotaped on e of their concerts for later viewing. The President and Vice-President of the Sony Corporation invited them to tour the building where they were shown the latest concepts of the Sound Industry, and presented them with beautiful cassette recorders. They also toured the National Corporation where Panasonic is manufactured, and Richard was very impressed with the new Tetnics Hi Fi equipment. There he received a very nice turntable. He was also the recipient of a super Panasonic receiver with AM/FM Marine band, short wave, etc; from Tats, their Japanese promoter. It was a cold, windy, rainy day when K & R visited one of the Japanese Temples, and respecting Japanese custom, they removed their shoes before entering. The icy cold floor almost froze their feet, so the visit was brief. From there they drove to the Ashiaya Steak House where they enjoyed an excellent meal. Much of their spare time was spent relaxing in their hotel suites watching American TV programs. Mom & Dad had video-taped their favorite programs that they were missing each night while working on the new album. Richard had a special case custom built on rollers, large enough to house their videocassette player and hundred plus tapes while in transit, so American TV rolled right along with them. Four more Gold Records were presented to K & R by King Record Co. "Live in japan", "Horizon", "Only Yesterday" and "Mr. Postman" all earned them each a Gold Record, bringing the total of Japanese awards to 18. "A Kind of Hush" will no doubt earn them another Japanese "Gold" as it was #1 in Japan while they were on tour there. It was being played wherever they went, even in the watch shop where they were browsing. Richard "digs" watches as he does cars! He purchased an extremely attractive seiko L.C.; the very latest in digital watches. It's called a Cronograph and features a quartz crystal, AM/FM indicator as well as date, hour and seconds plus a push button that makes it a stop watch. The whole group thought it was A-OK and each purchased a similar one before leaving Japan. Fans had showered them with gifts at every concert, presenting them to Karen from below stage while she was simultaneously singing, holding the mike and bending forward to shake hands and accept gifts. Incredible as it may seem, there were no duplications among the hundreds of items they brought home, though 2 wooden crates each 4 foot square by 4 foot high were built to transport them. At concert's end fans rushed the stage causing near riots. Excitement was so tremendous some nights that K & R were not allowed to shake hands for fear of being accidentally pulled offstage and getting injured. Though the language barrier was not a major problem, there were times they experienced difficulty ordering meals. The following is a quote from notes Karen kept to help me in writing the newsletter' "It's now Thursday morning, I've just had breakfast. I ordered 3 scrambled eggs and I got 3 ORDERS of scrambled eggs! I'm very full." Karen learned to speak a little Japanese (which is not the easiest language to learn) to enable her to thank fans for their concern while she was ill and let them know she is fine now. She spoke it fluently, even changing the dialect from city to city. After K & R returned home, mail poured in from Japan, praising and thanking them for speaking to them in their language. Their last day was a time racer which almost resulted in missing the flight home, but for the cooperation and swift action of Shorty, one of the Japanese road managers. A nine hour flight returned them to Los Angeles with fond memories and a tour well done. We held up the newsletter to wait for final information on a Tentative Tour Schedule now available as follows:

May 29 - Fesno, CA - Selland Arena
Jun 10 - 23 - Lake Tahoe, NV - Sahara
July 1 - 7 - Las Vegas, NV - Riviera
July 27 - Edmonton, Canada - Coliseum
July 29 - Minneapolis, MN - Northrup Auditorium
July 30 - Madison, WI - Dane County Auditorium
July 31 - Aug 1 - Chicago, IL - Arie Crown Theater
Aug 2 - Indianapolis, IN - Convention center
Aug 3 - FOrt Wayne, IN - Coliseum
Aug 4 - Kalamazoo, MI - Wings Stadium
Aug 5 - 7 - Toronto, Canada - O'Keefe Center
Aug 8 - Binghampton, NY - Broome County Memorial Auditorium
Aug 9 - Fitchburg, MA - Wallace Civic Center
Aug 10 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Performing Arts Center
Aug 12/13 - Pine Knob, MI - Pine Knob Theater
Aug 26 - Sept 8 - Las Vegas, NV - Riviera

Please be sure to confirm these dates with your ticket outlets in advance to avoid last minute disappointment. In response to numberous inquiries, we regret to inform you, the Dinah Shore "Tribute to the Carpenters" show, has been cancelled indefinitely, but any changes will be announced in a future newsletter.

That's all for now - will rap later - Ev.

[whsoxfan]

Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #49 (June 1976)

Hi fans,

Carpenters and staff hope that all of you are enjoying pleasant and safe summer vacations. The present vacation outlook for R & K is not too good. They are presently working on another single and by the time this goes to press they will be well into a midwest tour. Their new show is now more than just a concert. Mr. Weintraub was well aware of their potential as great entertainers and brought in Mr. Layton to work with them and create a show that would reveal their other talents. Karen's natural flair as a comedian has been brought to light and her costume changes help to interpret the songs she sings. All reviews since the opening of their new show have been rave notices.

I'm sure that those of you that have already received some of the colored photographs will agree with me that they are beauties. They are not paper pictures. They are on photographers silk photo paper and the natural colors are beautiful. The presses of "People" magazine are now rolling off an issue which will feature K & R and will hit the stands on July 27th, even before you read this newsletter. Perhaps you have already noticed their picture on the cover in your favorite store or market. Plans for the Christmas TV special are still on so if all goes well it will be taped this fall and televised sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Karen's condominium is nearing completion and she will be moving in sometime this fall. It's custom built to her specifications and she saw to it that she will have sufficient closet space to accomodate her expanding wardrobe. Her kitchen, too, will be spacious and will harbor all the appliances and handy kitchen gadgets that make cooking so much fun. Karen loves to cook and bake and is quite adept at turning out a gourmet meal. Richard is in to collecting cars - mostly those of 50 and 60 vintage. His recent purchase of a 1963 Studebaker Avanti brings the total of his collection to 17. Oldest car in the collection is a 1954 Corvette and the newest of the old is a 1969 Jaguar XKE. Dad Carpenter has been helping him to get them all in tip-top condition by seeing that the servicing they may need is properly completed. Plans for a European tour this fall have not been completed buty tey are tentatively scheduled for a week's engagement at the London Palladium beginning November 22. Questions for a question & answer session have been piling up, so here goes:

Q: Have Carpenters ever recorded "Make Your Own Kind of Music?"
A: No

Q: What was the first TV appearance and at what age?
A: "The All American College Show" - Karen was 17, Richard was 20

Q: Who takes K & R to the airport to catch their planes?
A: They hire a limo

Q: Do they prefer baths or showers?
A: They both prefer showers

Q: Are any of their grandparents living?
A: No

Q: Who takes care of Karen's dogs when she is on tour?
A: Mom & Dad, and if they go away at the same time, Ev takes care of them

Q: Are they fans of Jim Croce?
A: Yes

Q: Are gold & platinum records really made of gold & Platinum?
A: The gold records are indeed, made of gold. Platinum records are non existent. Though sales of albums (or singles) may continue to climb to the point of earning a platinum record, one is never presented. K & R do possess 2 real platinum records each which were presented to them by Eurodisc Benelux in Holland. The plaques read "This platinum record marks the sale of over 50,000 copies of________ one month after yur Benelux visit, March, 15, 1974. One record was for "The Singles" and the other was for "Now & Then".

Q: What are K & R's middle names?
A: Karen Anne, Richard Lynn

Q: Did Horizon hit gold
A: Yes, bot "Horizon" and "A Kind of Hush" (the album) were shipped gold. This means that over a million dollars worth of records were shipped out on the very first shipment to stores.

Q: I recently noticed that "Bless the Beasts" climbed to #67 on the charts. Was this released as a single?
A: "Bless the Beasts" was on the flip side of "Superstar", but the D.J.'s picked it from the album "Carpenters" and played it so much it was soon on the charts.

Q: May I purchase concert tickets from the Fan Club?
A: No. Neither the fan club or Karen or Richard are allowed to sell concert tickets. All tickets are sold thru ticket agencies or by the concert hall directly.

Q: Which schools did K & R attend in New Haven?
A: Elementary, Nathan Hale and Wilbur Cross High School

Q: What aspect of the music business do K & R enjoy the most?
A: presenting concerts

Q: How long did Karen take drum lessons before becoming part of the Carpenter Trio?
A: She played snare drum in high school for 8 weeks but as soon as she purchased her first drum set she was part of the trio. Her talent was inborn and she had no need for private lessons.

Q: Did K & R ever work in anything other than the music field when they were in high school or college? (Stores, gas stations, offices, etc?)
A: No. Their jobs were always in the field of music. However, Karen did have a paper route when she was still in elementary school.

Q: Who created the beautiful Carpenter logo?
A: The A & M Art department

Q: What is their biggest selling single to date? Album?
A: Single = "Close to You" with "Top of the World" a close second.
Album = "Close to You" with "Carpenters" running second

Q: Do K & R follow the record charts?
A: Yes, very closely

Q: What are Karen's views on women's lib?
A: To quote Karen - "I'm very happy & proud to be a woman - doing what I'm doing. I don't (have a) need to prove anything".

Since I began this letter, Richard added another car to his collection. So for all auto buffs, here is a list of cars that Richard now owns - new ones as well as the oldies.
1976 - Jaguar XJS - white 1963 - Studebaker Avanti - black
1975 - Cadillac Eldorado - black 1957 Chrysler Imperial - beige
1972 - Ferrari - red 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air - Sierra Bronze
1970 - Pklymouth Barracuda - black 1957 Lincoln Continental Mark II/white
1969 - Jaguar XKE - Sable Tan 1957 Ford Thunderbird - Black
1966 - Corvette Coupe - Maroon 1954 Corvette Coupe - Ivory
1966 - Corvette Fastback - Yellow 1929 - Desoto Deluxe - Maroon
1965 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa - Blue
1965 - Plymouth Satellite - Black
1963 - Buick Riviera - Burgundy
He also owns a 1974 Honda Motorcycle, 4 cycl - 350 enging and oh, yes, a 10 speed bike

Also upcoming in the next newsletter will be a complete list of all K & R's gold records - both from the U.S. and foreign countries. Your comments on the new album "A Kind of Hush" have been calculted and it seems that the favorite song is "Goofus". So look for it as the next single in your favorite music store soon.

Rap again, Ev

[whsoxfan]

Carpenters Fanclub Newsletter #51 (January 1977)

Happy New Year Everyone!

Richard, Karen, Mom & Dad Carpenter, Fan Club Staff & Ev sincerely wish for each of you a happy and most successful 1977. 1976 was an eventful year for Karen & Richard. Their TV special received excellent reviews and high ratings. (Neilson was #6 nationwide for that week.) They are hopeful of presenting another in 1977 but plans and schedules for this new year have not been completed. They will appear at Harrah's Club at Lake Tahoe February 19 thru ??.

Silver, golf and platinum records were delivered to their Downey home January 5th; nine for each of them. Denmark sent platinum ones for "Now & Then" and "The Singles". The United Kingdom was presenter of the remaining seven, sending a silver for "Please Mr. Postman", gold for "Horizon" and "A Kind of Hush" and platinum for "The Singles", "Horizon" and "Now & Then". The A & M hamlet label of the United Kingdom earned them a platinum record for their "Ticket to Ride" album. We have also been notified that "Ticket to Ride" hit gold in Holland.

Their European tour was a great success. There was a sellout of all concert hall tickets long before they were due to arrive in Europe. They presented 2 shows an evening and on one occasion, a third performance was given. It was Karen's idea to give a third show to benefit for needy children, and price admission tickets "a toy a tot". This not only benefited needy tots, but also several thousand fans who had been unable to secure concert tickets because of the speedy sellout. One of their concerts was taped by England A & M and a "Live in England" album was on the market several days after Karen & Richard arrived home. Unfortunately, it will not be released in the U.S. Any information concerning availability must be secured from A & M in England. Karen's terrific drum solo which she now performs in concerts, and Richard's beautiful rendition of the "Warsaw Concerto" have both been captured on this English album. There is also a song by Karen, never before done by her on a record - Richard's beautiful arrangement of "From This Moment On". Karen & Richard enjoyed the tour which went very smoothly and for a change was free of electrical problems in spite of the difference in electrical systems. My apologies to all for the lateness of the newsletter. Extra Christmas chores deterred me from regular work and it was impossible to get a letter written. The newsletter will be sent alternate months beginning January and ending November each year.

After many disappointing delays, Karen has finally moved into her condominium. I've had no opportunity to see it yet, but have been told it's a beauty. Workers still go in and out making adjustments, adding final touches here and there and making last minute installatins. Karen tries to work around them, placing beautiful gifts she's received and items she purchased on shelves or in drawers. Friends stop by to greet her and take the grand tour. Deliveries by various delivery mean are numerous. The first ring of the doorbell each day ushers in instant bedlam, but Karen loves every minute of this new kind of excitement and even took time to bake some Christmas cookies in her new kitchen.

The beautiful Christmas cards you so thoughtfully sent were draped on Christmas ribbon and strung wall to wall, row upon row in the fan club office. When finally removed, they will be placed in their books of memories for future enjoyment. Many thanks from Carpenters and staff for your thoughtfulness and for your years of loyalty and support.

For auto buffs interested in Richard's collection, here are a few more to add to the list:
1956 Chrysler 300 B White
1957 Chrysler 300 C White
1959 Chrysler 300 E White
1962 Chrysler 300 H Blue
1964 Chrysler 300K White
1965 Chrysler 300L Dark Green
1963 Thunderbird Red
1959 DeSoto Sportsman Fireflite 2 door - Tan
1959 DeSoto Sportsman Fireflite 4 door - blue
1977 Corvette Yellow

Cars which were repainted by prior owners will be restored to their original color. The Corvair, blue when Richard purchased it, has now been restored to its original white.

By popular request, more questions and answers:

Q: Will a single be released with Richard as soloist?
A: No plans for one in the near future

Q: Who design's Karen's lovely new stage outfits?
A: Designers at Workroom 27 in Los Angeles

Q: Where does Richard keep all of his cars?
A: He has rented a storage garage near home but plans to build one of his own.

Q: Does he actually drive each one or are they just an investment?
A: They are an investment, but after complete restoration, he will drive each of them from time to time.

Q: Have either of them ever attended a high school reunion?
A: No, there's only been one of Richard's class and he was on tour at the time. Karen's class hasn't had one.

Q: What do they enjoy doing on a date?
A: They enjoy movies, a good stage play or concerts by their favorite artists.

Q: Has Richard ever tried to grow a mustache?
A: No

Q: Do they watch "All my Children" the TV "soap"?
A: Neither are in the "soaps", but Karen enjoys "The Family"

Q: Have either of them ever visited schools to discuss music with the students?
A: While vacationing in Connecticut a couple of years ago, they stopped by Nathan Hale Elementary school which they both had attended, to visit former teachers; but no arrangements had been made for any discussions with the students. When Richard was attending Long Beach State College he spent a couple of hours with a class of kindergarten students in one of the elementary schools, playing piano for them. A few days later, Richard received, from the teacher, pictures drawn by the students expressing their feeling concerning his music. All pictures expressed love and appreciation of his renditions in one way or another. One youngster, when questioned by the teacher concerning details of his picture, explained it was a piano with bubble foaming out. When she asked him if he didn't mean "floating", he said "No, I mean foaming, because music was so light". He also served on a panel for an extension course at U.C.L.A. The course, "This Business of Music" was sponsored by Billboard. Other panelists serving with Richard wre Frank Zappa, composer and guitarist, John Kay, lead singer of Steppenwolf; Jackie DeShannon, singer and composer, and Quincy Jones, composer, arranger and producer. (Karen was there as part of the audience).

Q: What is the last line from "Boat to Sail"?
A: The last 4 lines when printed as a lyric read: "All those letters mailed, from a boat to sail, away ah, We are riding in a boat to sail. We are riding in a boat to sail. (Karen fades out singing "DeShannon is back", but this was not written as part of the song).

Q: Who does the bass vocal in "A Boat to Sail"
A: Richard

Q: Has Herb Alpert performed on any other Carpenter record other than "Offering"?
A: No

Q: Did they ever record "Cinderella Rockafella"
A: No, they only did the song in concerts.

Q: Have either of them ever contributed in anyway to another artist's records?
A: No

Q: Have they ever recorded any of their songs in French or Spanish ?
A: No

Q: Have they ever recorded the song "You and Me Against the World"
A: No

Q: What kind of piano does Richard play when recording and on tour?
A: Wurlitzer for electric and Baldwin for grand.

Karen & Richard left today for a week's vacation in Hawaii. They've been there several times to do concerts, but could never staylong enough to enjoy the beauty of the islands. We all hope they enjoy their stay there, don't we?

NOTE: the live album they recorded in England is entitiled "Live at the Palladium".

Rap in March, EV



** To everyone, sorry it took me so long to get this typed up, I've been busy, but should now be free to type them more regularly - thanks for your patience **

[whsoxfan]

Carpenter Fanclub Newsletter #52 (March 1977)

Hi Fans, Karen & Mom Carpenter send much thanks for your thoughtfulness in remembering their birthdays. the lovely cards arriving rom fans throughout the world are being secured in their "Books of Memories". We never refer to thses books as scrapbooks because the material contained in them is NOT scrap. From the day of their birth, Mom Carpenter has been very diligent in saving clippings concerning them, printed programs from various performances in which K & R participated, school awards and certificates, and of course, family snapshots and photos. For the past 7 years your contributions of letters, greeting cards, stories, plays, poems, artwork, telegrams, snapshots, etc have increased the "Memories" collection from a few books to well over a hundred. Visitors in the Carpenter home are delighted to be shown the collection and are amazed at the lovely numerous items that have been preserved for them. Thank you for helping to make this remarkable "Memories" library possible. The following tour schedule will keep K & R busy through August 15. Please keep in mind that dates and/or places listed may be changed or cancelled:
April 19 thru 24 - AK-Sar-Ben Coliseum, Omaha Nebraska
May 31 - June 5 - Valley Forge Music Fair Valley Forge, PA
June 7 - 12 Painters Mill Music Fair Owings, MD
June 14 - 19 Shadygrove Music Fair Gaithersburg, MD
June 21 - 26 Westbury Music Fair Westbury NY

Owing to pending alterations in the original schedule for July & August, these venues, dates, etc. will be confirmed in the May newsletter

My apologies to all for two incorrect answers to questions in former newsletters. The correct answer to "Have they ever recorded any song in French & Spanish"? is YES. They recorded "Sing" in Spanish as well as in Japanese on their "Live in Japan" album. The other question, "Have they ever contributed to another artist's records?" the answer is Richard wrote the arrangement of "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" on Neil Sedaka's "Hungry Years" album. (Thanks J.J.) Will continue now with new questions:

Q: What kind of car does Karen own?
A: Unlike her brother, she owns only one. It is a Mercedes Benz 360 SL (1972)

Q: Has Richard added any cars to his collection since the last newsletter?
A: Yes, five more. 1) 1963 Chrysler 300 J 2) 1955 Chrysler C300 3) 1977 Pontiac Transam Firebird 4) 1959 Dodge Custom Royal 5) 1958 Chrysler 300D. He also has a 1976 Ferrari on order.

Q: What has been their most memorable occasion?
A: There have been a number of memorable occasions, but the one that means the most to them is the day that their single "Close to You" became number one on all charts.

Q: If they were not entertainers, what career would they have chosen?
A: Both would have chosen some segment of the entertainment field

Q: Who plays castanets and vibes on their albums?
A: Karen & Richard

Q: Did Karen & Richard ever participate in sports when they attended high school?
A: No. They were members of the marching band whose members were excused from gymnasium classes. Karen played glockenspeil, then snare drum. Because of Richard's superb piano ability, he was given classical piano assignments and was left a the piano to practise while the band members were practicing marching.

Q: How old was Karen when she began playing drums?
A: 16

Q: Do they object to pictures being taken while they are performing?
A: Absolutely Not.

Q: When sales are counted for possible gold and or platinum records, are the sales of 8 track tapes and cassettes counted too?
A:; Yes, they are counted

Q: What does A & M stand for?
A: The last names of the owners of the recording studio. A is for Alpert (Herb) and M is for Moss (Jerry)

Q: Does Karen read music?
A: Yes

Q: What is the name of K & R's publishing company?
A: They have two. One is ARS NOVA and the other is HAMMER & NAILS

Q: Have either of them ever had a complexion problem?
A: No. Their skin has always been soft and clear, possibly due to the fact that neither of them were great sweet eaters during their adolescent years.

Q: What is the longest Karen's hair has ever been?
A: About 3 inches below her shoulders

Q: How many members are there in the fan club?
A: about 10,000. Their wish is to keep it small so it can be handled on a personal basis. Large fan clubs become very impersonal and many are computerized.

Q: What are the ages of Lady & Mush?
A: To new members - Mush & Lady are Karen's dogs. Lady, her Belgian Shepherd is 12 years old and Mush, her Samoyed will be 6 years old in October.

Q: (From overseas) What is a sitcom - a condominium - bleachers?
A: Sitcom and condominiums are new U.S.A. words. Bleachers has been used for quite some time. Sitcom is a Situation Comedy on T.V. A condominium is a flat or apartment which as been purchased by the tenant. Karen purchased two (side by side) in a very elegant building and tore down the wall between them to make one huge luxurious suite. Bleachers are wooden stands that serve as seats for spectators.

Q: What are the white spots that appear on their house on the "Now & Then" album cover?
A: They are white rocks that have been worked into the design of the exterior

The days spent in Canada taping the Dorothy Hamill Special were cold. Weather was below zero. From Canada, they flew to Lake Tahoe where they appeared at Harrah's Club for 4 days. The day they were to return home, Mother Nature detained them for hours by sending a blizzard that grounded all planes in Tahoe. It took some time for roads to be cleared and a limo took them to Reno where weather conditions were a bit better and they were able to leave. Mr. Harrah generously furnished one of his private planes for the flight home. Karen's birthday was a quiet one, spent with family and two close friends. A birthday dinner was enjoyed at home and all viewed the Dorothy Hamill show. Richards has been spending most of his time researching songs for another album and arranging those he finds suitable. It will be awhile before another album is released as their performance schedule will interrupt the work that Richard must complete before actual recording starts. Karen has been busy arranging her new home to her satisfaction and enjoys shopping for the household items she needs. Her favorite room is her huge bright kitchen where she loves trying out recipes from the wealth of cook books she has accumulated. Like her Mom, she is an excellent cook.
NOTE: The 1976 Ferrari mentioned on page 1 has arrived, bringing the number of cars in Richard's collection to 45. This Ferrari is a beautiful silver/gray with black interior. There's been a number of requests for a thumbnail bio of Mom & Dad Carpenter so if all goes well, I will try to honor this request in the next issue. They are so busy helping Richard in the refurbishing of his cars, it is very difficult to get them to sit still long enough for an interview. I'll see what I can do between now & May 1st. Rap then, Ev

[whsoxfan]

Carpenters Fanclub Newsletter #53 (May 1977)

Hi Fans,

This is Ev apologizing for the lateness of this letter. Twice in April I was called back to Wisconsin because of the illness and then the death of a very dear aunt. Congratulations from Carpenters and staff to those of you who will be graduating next month. We all wish you much success in whatever you choose to do, whether it is to continue your education or seek a career. You are all probably aware by now of Karen & Richard's latest single "All You Get From Love is a Love Song" which was released May 2, 1977. they chose for the flip side, the beautiful love ballad written by John Bettis and arranged by Richard "I Have You" taken from their last album "A Kind of Hush". In keeping with the current mode, the new single has a swinging upbeat style guaranteed to get you dancing and tapping your toes! We have high hopes for it's success on the charts in the very near future.

Karen & Mom wish to convey once again their very grateful thanks for the lovely cards they received from yu all for their recent birthdays. A dinner party at home with close friends of the family was the highlight of both birthdays.

Richard recently entered eight cars from his collection in the Long Beach Concourse D'Elegance car show which was an elegant spectacle. It was held in the Shipside parking lot of the beautiful Queen Mary which served as an elegant background for picture taking. Though he received no awards, he enjoyed the novelty of participation in his first competition. He also enjoyed conversing with other car enthusiasts. Spectators derived much pleasure from viewing the cars while listening to Carpenters music which was played on the public address system. Richard's entries were: 1929 DeSoto Deluxe Coupe in Vintage Vehicle Class. 1954 Corvette Roadster, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible & 1958 Chrysler 300D Convertible entered the "Nifty Fifties" class. 1965 Plymouth Convertible in "Modern Motorcars". 1966 Corvette Convertible and 1969 Jaguar XKE Coupe entered the "Contemporary Division".

The latest additions to his collection (which no number 50) are a 1960 Pontiac Bonneville, 1961 Lincoln Continental, 1970 Plymouth Hemicuda, 1977 Chevrolet Caprice and 1957 Plymouth Golden Fury. Mom & Dad were delighted to receive a 1930 Model A Ford Roadster as a gift from Karen & Richard to mark the occasion of their 42nd Wedding Anniversary, April 9th. Numerous friends helped them celebrate by attending a lovely party in their home, hosted by Karen & Richard. Buffet tables were set up inthe huge music room where guests dined and were treated to beautiful paino renditions by Richard.

It is with much regret that in order for Karen & Richard to complete their new album, they have been compelled to cancel all tours for the month of June. They apologize to all disappointed fans. I apologize for omitting in an earlier newsletter the lovely gift the Dutch Carpenters Fanclub presented to Karen & Richard while touring Holland last November. It was a magnificent delft porcelain plate depicting one of Hollan's famous windmills, and set on to a wooden plaque which is appropriately engraved in remembrance of their visit. A very charming gesture which is cherished with happy memories. The following additions to the schedule are now in hand:
June 30 thru July 13 - MGM Hotel - Las Vegas, Nevada
August 2 thru 15 - Harrah's - Lake Tahoe, Nevada
A tour of Japan is scheduled for September 14 thru October 6, but no list of cities is available at this time.

Memorial Day weekend promises to be a very memorable fun time for Karen & Richard. They have been invited to Las Vegas to be a part of a Celebrity baseball team who has challenged The Press. Other celebrities who will participate include Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Roy Clark, Rich Little, Alice cooper, Ann Margaret, Connie Stevens, Ronnie Shore, Bruce Jenner will be there and may participate if his broken leg completely heals. Others wo have been invited are Lee & Farrah Fawcett Majors, Wayne Newton, Jerry West, Henry Winkler (The Fonz), Cindy Williams, Tom Jones, Don Ho, Jerry Lewis, Ethel Kennedy, Bernadette Peters, Steve Martin, Robert Goulet, Don Henley (of the Eagles), Johnny Carson and Chip Carter (that's right - the President's son). The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29th at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in aid of Nevada Mentally Handicapped Special Olympics. Celebrity appetites shall be satisfied at a 6 pm dinner at the Golden Nugget Casino, the Club that is sponsoring the game.

Wedding bells will soon ring for group member Doug Strawn. He will marry Nancy Christensen May 21 at the First Christian Church of Anaheim, Calif. Plans for another TV special later this year are in the preliminary stage as this goes to press, but I will keep you in touch with further developments in a future newsletter.

Due to the large influx of questions pertaining to Mom & Dad Carpenter, their bio will be postponed to a leter newsletter. Thank you for sending in very interesting & intelligent questions. They will help me in conducting a more interesting interview. Please let me know what you would like to know about them, and I will try to honor all reasonable requests.

Now for a Question & Answer session:

Q: Did Richard ever own a 1969 Roadrunner?
A: The 1969 Roadrunner was purchased as a family car, but became Karen's when she attended the Univ of California at Long Beach. This was her first car.

Q: How old was Richard when he got his first car and what kind was it?
A: Richard's very first car was a 1957 Plymouth 4 door hard top Savoy, purchased for him when he was 16 in New Haven (1962). It was left behind when the family moved to California in 1963

Q: Are there any plans for an Australian tour?
A: Not at this time

Q: Have any of their singles or albums sold over 2 million in the USA?
A: Singles - No Albums - Yes. "Close to You", "Carpenters" and "The Singles 1969/1973" sold over 2 million copies each in the USA

Q: What is Richard's favorite Spike Jones song?
A: "Holiday for Strings".

Q: Does Gayle Levant play the harp on all their albums?
A: Yes, except for 2 tracks, "Heather" and "Sandy", Dorothy Renser was the harpist on these

Q: What does Karen do for voice warm-up's?
A: Nothing

Q: Approximately how many records does Richard own?
A: 3,000

Q: Are any member of the road family into the current C.B. craze?
A: Yes - Doug Strawn and Danny Woodhams.

We wish you all a happy and safe summer.

Rap later - Ev

[whsoxfan]

Carpenter Fanclub Newsletter #54 (July 1977)

Hi Fans!

There will be something entirely new on the next Carpenter album to be released soon. It will contain a variety of music, and the highlight will be a score from the Argentina rock opera "Evita" entitled "Don't Cry for Me Argentina."

Karen will solo with a background of 50 singers from the Gregg Smith Chorale, plus the entire Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. The famous British conductor Peter Knight, was flown from London to conduct the scores, Richard's buddy Wes Jacobs flew in from Michigan to play the tuba.

We were privileged to attend the taping at A&M Studios, and we found the sound stage filled to capacity with musicians. Four TV stations has mini-cams there to film footage of the session for the evening news, as it was the largest recording session ever attempted for an album track.

Richard's 1956 Chrysler 300-B eas entered in 3 car shows the week of June 20th at Lake Tahoe, and wan an award in each event. Monday the 20th, the Chrysler 300 Club awarded it 2nd Place, the 21st it won "Best of Show" at the Walter P. Chrysler Show, and the 25th it again won 2nd place at Harrah's annual show in Reno, Nevada.

For those of you keeping a list of Richard's collection, here are 4 more to add. There are 2 1953 Studebaker Starliners, one red, one black, a 1962 Studebaker Granturismo, and a 1971 Lincoln Continental. In 1971 Richard sold this same Continental to a friend who sold it to a friend who finally sold it back to Richard. This brings the toal of Richard's collection to 54.

There will be a Carpenter TV Christmas special again this year which is scheduled to be taped before they leave for Japan.

Fans in the Philippines and Australia will be happy to learn Carpenter concerts are tentatively scheduled for your countries before the year's end. The schedule for the balance of the year is a follows:

August 2 - 15th - Harrah's Club - Lake Tahoe, Nevada
October 12 - 21st - Tour of Japan
November 2nd & 3rd - Manila, Philippines
November 5 - 17th - Tour of Australia
November 24th & 25th - Sheraton Ballroom, Honolulu Hawaii

The charity baseball game played in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend was won by the Celebrities who scored over the Press by 1 run.

I finally pinned Mom & Dad Carpenter down long enough to tape an interview as a basis for the thumbnail biographies you've requested, so we will start with Mom.

Agnes was the second of 4 daughters born to Annie May and George Arthur Tatum of Baltimore, Maryland where they lived on Mulberry Street, until she was 17. Sister Jenny was 9 years old when Agnes was born, and sisters Audrey and Bernice followed 3 1/2 and 7 years later. While attending Western High School on Hilton Street, Agnes excelled in sports and won a medal for her excellent participation in baseketball. Although her Dad was part owner of Tatum, Fritz & Goldsmith wholesale clothing business, she was an excellent seamstress, and made many of the coats and dresses worn by the 4 girls, also the heavy velour and brocade lined and pleated drapes that hung at the windows of their home. In 1932 the Tatums moved to Catonsville where Agnes met her future husband. She was riding in a wagon near the Brancheau home where Harold stopped by to visit Jack Daley, a mutual friend who resided at the Brancheau's residence. When Jack introduced them to each other, it was the beginning of a 4 year courtship.

They were married in Catonsville Methodist Church by Pastor Jay Turnbull Spicknel, April 9th, 1935 at 7 pm. For 3 weeks they resided in the Tatum home before moving to Richmond, Virginia where Harold found work at a box printing company. Joanie (Jenny's daughter) became part of their family at 18 months of age when Jenny became ill. They were Richmond residents for 5 years prior to returning to Baltimore where they stayed for a few months before moving to New Haven, Connecticut where Richard & Karen were born. In 1942, to contribute to the war effort, Agnes worked for Metler Brothers (a division of Pratt/Whitney Motor Mounts) where she operated a threadmill machine until the war ended in 1945.

October 15th, 1946 son Richard was born and 3 1/2 years later, March 2nd 1950 Karen made her appearance as the final addition to the Carpenter family. For the next 12 years Mom was busy raising the children, then in 1962 she went to work for the Edal Company where she again proved to be a top machine operator. In 1963 the family moved to California to further Richard's musical career, realizing Los Angeles would offer the best opportunities for his talent. To help pay for the new Downey home they purchased, Mom took a job at North American Rockwell Corp (now known as Rockwell Int'l). About the time she lost her job there due to the Apollo cut-back, Karen & Richard signed a recording contract with A&M Records. So she was kept busy with new duties for them. This included house hunting with Dad for a larger home. They finally found the type of home Karen & Richard wanted, and the move into the new Downey home was made in November 1971.

Mom has been very fortunate having enjoyed good health all her life. She's had no serious inuuries, accidents, illnesses or operations. Her tonsils were removed by cautery in a doctor's office. Her favorite foods are steak, cantaloupe & ice cream. Colors are yellow, orchid and red. Music she likes is semi classical. Her favorite TV programs for her & Dad are Columbo, The Rockford Files, Kojak and Hawaii 5-0.

Dad's bio is on tape in preparation for the next newsletter. Thanks for your patience while waiting for this month's issue which I know is quite late, but I didn't want to disappoint you again by not printing this bio.

Rap in September. EV





*** To everybody: I am so sorry it has taken me so long to type us this newsletter. It seems to take me about 1/2 hour or so to type them up, but I've just haven't had the time. I'll try and get them typed up more frequently. Thanks for your patience! Jayne ****

[whsoxfan]

Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #55 (September 1977)

Hi Fans!

Carpenters & staff hope you have all enjoyed a beautiful summer and fun vacations. K & R have had no time off this year and because of this we have good news for everyone and bad news for Japanese, Phillipine & Australian members. First, the bad news: All Japanese, Manilla and Australian concerts and the two scheduled for Hawaii have been cancelled, due to a much needed rest ordered by their doctor. The good news is: The new album is scheduled to be released September 23 and there's something on it for everyone, including opera lovers. Watch for "Passage" in your music stores. Their new single was released September 9th and it is a very unique space song. Look for "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" in your music stores now. Without further ado, here is a bio of Dad Carpenter:

Harold Bertram Carpenter was born in Wuchou China in 1908. His father, George, a brilliant electrician and top notch salesman, was a British subject. On a visit to the U.S. he met Nellie Jane Lynn at a Methodist prayer meeting in Wellsville, NY where she had been born and raised. After they were married they decided to devote a few years to missionary work and were promptly sent to China, where they were transferred from city to city. Upon completion of their mission, George returned to his work in electrical sales and they settled in Yunnan, China in a section of the city that had been set aside for foreign dignitaries and professionals. Their home there was a beautiful big house with a huge yard and garden which was well cared for by numerous Chinese servants. Formal parties within the complex were frequent and when the Carpenters entertained, the dinner table was set with fine China and silver. Frequently young Harold with younger sister Esther would sneak downstairs where they could observe the festivities without being seen.
It was the era of the Boxer Rebellion and street fights and killings were frequent. No one walked the streets. All foreigners stayed within the complex and servants were sent out to do the shopping. Supplies of all kinds were limited. Most were ordered from Montgomery Ward, including huge supplies of food. The only available fresh fruit was persimmons. A lovely persimmon tree grew right outside Harold's bedroom window and he thouroughly enjoyed the succulent fruit it bore. Apples & oranges were seen only in the minds of Harold and Esther as their mother described the beauty and taste of these fruits so abundant in the U.S. Meals consisted of rice, vegetables and a little meat. Harold preferred eating in the kitchen with the servents where they prepared real Chinese dishes for themselves, using ginger-root as a basic spice. He loved to scoop out the pieces of ginger-root and eat them, using chopsticks as adeptly as the Chinese servants, The family dressed well in clothes that also had to be imported. Harold's excellent taste in clothes today probably stems from the lovely Eaton suits he wore as a youngster.
Transportation was a Chair on poles, carried on the shoulders of four servants. Each family owned their own chair but public taxi service was via Rickshaw. Toys and games were rare items. Harold's favorite activity wa sshooting the noisy, bothersome crows that were so plentiful in their garden. His father, an excellent hunter, provided him with a 22 and taught him how to use it correctly; and once each year they would travel to West Mountain to hunt pheasant. Though he and Esther each had their own pony, their rides were limited to roads within the compound. Though a tutor was hired for the youngsters education, it was a hit and miss affair and they did not receive a formal education until they were placed in schools in England. Harold was eight when plans were made for their trip to England to place them in schools. It was a long, difficult, dangerous journey that had to be made by train because WWI was in progress. They traveled across Siberia and because the Russian Revolution was also going on, the train was frequently stopped and searched by Russian troops. At each stop the children hid under the tables of the dining car. In Petrovgrad they left the train and were placed in a hotel for a few days there they existed on black bread and water, the only food available to them. Bombings were frequent and the hotel next to theirs was demolished during a bombing. Boarding another train they entered the Arctic circle in Finland and traveled to Sweden and then Norway where they were finally put aboard a ship at Bergen, where big ships embarked for England. They skirted the Shetland Islands in the North Sea the week that German U-Boats sank more passenger ships than any other week of the entire war. At the end of this nightmare voyage they disembarked at Liverpool, then continued on to Margate where Harold & Esther were placed in boarding schools. His mother with younger brother Richard, returned to China where eventually, two more younger sisters would be born. At war's end his mother and dad returned to England and bought a house in Hendon where Harold continued his education by attending Hendon Hall. His father went back to his electrical sales business in China. His mom remained in England until it was near time for her baby to be born, then again joined his father in China. Eventually they disposed of all their possessions in China and they both returned to England where they settled in Golder's Green, where his dad invented a burglar alarm. When business dropped off, his mother with the 5 children sailed to the U.S. to live with her mother. Harold was 14 and though his education in England was equivalent to a high school education in the U.S. he attended the Wellsville NY high school for 2 years. Due to his mother's illness, he left school at 16 to go to work. She had contacted a lung ailment in Singapore and eventually lost the use of one lung.
An uncle in Middletown, Ohio was night superintendent of a paper box industry and he put Harold to work there, feeding the press, and welcomed him into his home to live. When his uncle took a better job in Indianapolis, Harold moved along with them and again worked with his uncle on a press. His mother, brother and sisters came to Indianapolis for a brief stay then returned to England to be with Harold's father. harold remained in Indianapolis where he became interested in motorcycles and joined a cycle club. Once again he moved with his aunt & uncle to Maryland to accept still better jobs. He and a friend rode their bikes to Catonsville where he met Agnes, and after a 4 year courtship, they were married. Since then, his life parallels Agnes's which yu read about in Newsletter #54.
Harold has enjoyed good health all his life. His only surgery was an ear operation in 1960 which left him slightly hard of hearing in his right ear. Injuries consisted of 3 nasty motorcycle flops in Indiana and a more serious one to his arm when it wa accidentally caught under the rollers of a printing press he was working on at the time. He and Mom Carpenter have the same interests in music and TV shows but differ in favorite colors. His is red. When asked what his favorite food is, his answer was "the best way to answer that is to ask me what I don't like". The question was asked - "Which foods don't you like?". His answer "Stewed tomatoes. That is all - just stewed tomatoes".
The amazing talent that K & R possess comes partly, perhaps from grandmother Nellie and grandfather George. Both were fine pianists and ofts played piano for their guests a the formal dinner parties they held when they lived in China. Grandmother Nellie had a fine voice and would also render for her guests, beutiful songs. Harold was given piano lessons for a while (against his will) but was not interested in learning to play the piano and hated practicing. He did enjoy his parents renditions, however, and he also loved listening to lovely classical and semi-classical music from records played on the beautiful victrola they ahd in China. His favorite relaxation today is to relax on an easy chair in Richard's huge music room and surround himself with fine music from records played on the turntable of the fantastic stereo sound system in that room.
Though Dad Carpenter retired from the Conctainer Corp in 1970 he surely has not retired. He is busier now than at any time of his life. He & Mom are Collection Control Administrators of Richard's car collection and are responsible for bringing all cars purchased to mint condition. This means numerous trips from one car specialist to another and making numerous calls and trips to btain obsolete parts. Dad also reads numerous ads in search of cars that Richard wishes to add to his collection, and this, at times takes him & Mom to other states to check out possible purchases. He & mom have also been Richard's representatives in several car shows & parades.
To your list of Richard's cars, add a 58 Edsel Citation and a 56 Chevrolet Bel Air. This brings his collection to 57.
Rap later, EV

[whsoxfan]

Sorry everyone for the very long delay in posting a newsletter. My sincere apologies!


Carpenter Fan Club Newsletter #56 (November 1977)

Hi Fans,

Karen & Richard hope that each of you had a happy Halloween. Goblins, witches, ghosts, scarecrows, creatures of all sizes, shapes and colors rang the Carpenter door-bell requesting Halloween treats. By 9 pm, they had dropped, one by one, a Hershey bar into 960 shopping bags, pillow cases, super market bags, tablecoths, aprons and various other containers held forth by these trick-or-treaters. They came in groups of 20 and 30 arriving by foot and by car. The street was lined bumper to bumper with cars filled with youngsters from other neighborhoods. It was late into the night when the door-bell finally stopped ringing, by which time Mom Carpenter was exhausted.

Though we are enjoying lovely warm fall weather, there are many signs of Christmas in the stores. Those of you who intend to give loved ones some of the Carpenters Keepsakes items, be sure to get your orders in immediately so they can be filled in time for Christmas. A Postal Money Order rather than a personal check, will help to expedite the order more readily. Don't forget our new item - the lovely scarves with both signatures and Carpenter logo in one corner.

We (Carpenter staff) were given a sneak preview of the Carpenters Christams TV special. What a show! If you enjoyed their '76 TV Special, this one is a triple treat. All the Christmas songs were chosen and arranged by Richard, and he made a terrific selection. The sets and costumes are beautiful, the skits are funny, and Richard's rendition of "Oh Holy Night" is truly inspirational. If you ever wondered what Karen's condominium looks like, watch the Christmas party scene closely. The sets for that scene were designed to look like her own living quarters. The pictures she shows and describes , are actual pictures pulled from their family photograph books. You'll see a young Richard holding a Teddy Bear, and a younger Karen (she was 3) holding, of all things, a toy machine gun, and yes, it is hers! That's what she had asked Santa to bring her for Christmas. You'll hear her sing "White Christmas" looking very mature and sophisticated, wearing a floor-length ermine coat; and another scene depicts her as a 14 year old adorable tom-boy dressed in overalls, singing and skipping with Kristy McNichol. Dog lovers will love the park scene as Fran performs a Kukla & Ollie puppet show, and their audience consists of just one large dog who does nothing more than occupy one of the audience chairs to watch the show. (Oh yes, you'll see Ollie fall in love with Karen, and go completely bananas when she gives him a little kiss.) The Bowling Alley scene is not a set, it's a "for real" one (The Jefferson Bowl in Culver City) which was rented for the day to film the scene. Richard is a lone customer who converses with Harvey Korman (a waiter) which leads to a duet by the two of them, and you'll even see Richard (and Harvey) do a little dance - and that wasn't easy on the slippery alley floor! Harvey does a hilarious "Christmas Carol" skit, playing allthe parts himself, and changing costumes as he runs out one door, around the back of the set to enter another door across the stage as a different character. You'll feel right at home during Karen's Christmas party, and laugh as Karen, Richard, Kristy, Harvey, Kukla and Ollie each sing their "New Year's Resolution". The Long Beach State Choir led by Frank Pooler the school music directore, enhances the program with beautiful Christmas carols.

Good news for most foreign members. A terrific short length promotin film was made to promote Karen & Richard's new single "Calling Occupants". It will be shown in theaters world-wide (except the U.S.). Karen, in a lovely green satin jump suit, sings the entire song to Richard's accompaniment. If, like me, you enjoy watching his hands as he plays, you'll be pleased with the close-up shots of his hands on the keyboard. Background setting is, of course, outer space with a galaxie of stars, planets and space ships.

The disc jockey in the radio station at the opening of the film, is group member Tony Peluso (as on Passage) who mimicks the 50's DJ's so well. Tony is also featured as a DJ on previous Carpenters albums.

Speaking of albums, we hope you have purcahed your copy of "Passage". Reminder: buy one for Aunt Jane, Uncle Joe, Cousin Pat and all those "hard to please" relatives and friends. They'll love it!

You may also like to buy them a copy of K & R;s new Christmas single "The Christmas Song" which is included in the TV special. The flip side is everyone's favorite "Merry Christmas Darlng" and should be in all music stores by the time you receive this letter.

The tentative date for the TV special to be aired is December 9th, but please be sure to check your TV guide for confirmation as alterations frequently occur.

For car buffs keeping a list of Richard's cars, here are two more to add: a 1964 Imperial Crown Coupe, and a 1970 Dodge Challenger. All cars in his collection will eventually be restored to their original condition, so there are always five or six cars out for repairs and restoration. Cars driven most by Richard are his 1976 Jaguar, 71 and 72 Lincolns, 77 Corvette and 77 Trans Am. Karen remains very happy with her 1972 Mercedes, and has no desire to trade it, sell it or even acquire a second car for herself.

Karen & Richard were recent guests of (the real) Don Steel on L.A.'s new radio station 10Q who frequently play the long version of "Calling Occupants". Later this week they will be hosted by Wink Martindale on KMPC another great L.A. radio station. Will will review "Passage".

If you read in a recent movie magazine that Karen & Richard were considering doing a Disney movie, sorry to say, the information is incorrect. They have no plans to do a movie in the near future. Richard was asked to write the music for the recently released Disney film "The Resucers", but other commitments at that time resulted in a reluctant negative answer.

Carpenters 1978 itinerary holds no promise for a tour this year. Their only appearances tentatively scheduled will be at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and Harra's Lake Tahoe. The first MGM appearance will be during the Christmas holidays from December 24th thru January 4th. Mom & Dad will join them in Las Vegas, so they will enjoy a family Christmas in a different setting.

There is TV taping scheduled for March, but no details concerning guest stars are available at this time.

The lovely gifts & greeting cards you sent for Richard's recent birthday were received with gratitude as he sincerely appreciates your thoughtfulness. Both K & R and Mom & Dad express their thanks for remembering them while you were on vacation. Their post card book is getting quite fat with lovely views from throughout the world.

Richard, Karen, Mom & Dad, the Group, The Roadies, Rosina and Patty wish each one of you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with happiness, good health and prosperity, and , of course, I do , too.

There is a little room for a short Q & A session, so here goes:

Q: Have K & R ever met Elvis Presley?
A: Yes, in fact one of Karen's most treasured gifts, is the autographed stuffed dog Elvis gave her. It is encased in a lucite "dog house" complete with imitation grass! Elvis also gave Karen a personally inscribed copy of his karate black belt certificte which is placed on a perma plaque.

Q: What is the flip side of "Calling Occupants"?
A: A re-cut version of "Can't Smile Without You"

Q: What are the definitions of the following; ASCAP, RIAA, BMI & BPI?
A: RIAA is Recording Industry Assocation of America
ASCAP is American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers
BMI is Broadcast Music Incorporated
BPI: is Broadcasters Phonographic Industry

Q: Can we expect another track from "Passage" to be released as a single in the near future?
A: K & R are considering releasing "Sweet, Sweet Smile", but it would not be until after "Calling Occupants" disappears from the charts.

Q: What songs wre on the tape conceived in Joe Osborne's garage?
A: "Your Wonderful Parade", "Invocation" and "All I Can Do".

Rap Next year! Ev

[Sakura]

from NEWSLETTER #62 - November, 1978

Richard's birthday was spent taping the (TV) special, so (typical of Karen) she planned a surprise celebration on the set. An enormous cake was wheeled on stage as the cast sang "Happy Birthday". The cake was a work of art indeed decorations appropriately depicting a pianist at the piano, a conductor with raised baton, records, and a classic car. It was a brief but happy interlude on a busy and exacting working day.

Car and piano on the same cake!!

Sakura

[Sakura]

Thank you, Pamela, for editing the above from Game Room Topics.

Thank you, Jayne, for typing Fan Club Newsletters above and at Carpenters Trivia.

I am going to add some from my memo pad. I'm sorry I am not excellent at typing as Jayne. Only memo. And some may be in Jayne's posts.

Sakura

[Sakura]

NEWSLETTER #1 - May, 1971
Hi Fans!
The following information on our famous brother-sister team pertaining to
their individual characteristics etc. may interest you.

Richard Lynn Carpenter (Libra) was born at 12:53 a.m. on Tuesday, October
15, 1946. Blonde hair, hazel eyes. Present height 6 ft. His voice range in
low E for two octaves. His favorite colors are yellow, black and gold.
Hobbies include luxury cars, sports cars (the faster the better) and antique
cars. He collects records, specially old 78's.

Karen Anne Carpenter (Pisces) was born at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 2,
1950. Brown hair and eyes. Present height 5 ft. 4 in. Her voice rang is C
below middle C to G above height C. Her favorite colors are red, black and
yellow. Hobbies include cooking, needlepoint and bowling. She loves horses,
and her love of them convinced her to make the move to California for New
Haven, Connecticut where she and Richard were born. Karen was rather
disappointed when her parents bought a house in the city of Downey, where
she discovered there was no room to house a horse. However, she settled for
a second love - a dog. At present she has a beautiful Belgian Shepherd she
calls "Lady" and a Sammoyed pup she has named "Mush". Karen's private
collection consists of a variety of stuffed animals.

What do they wear when they're home? Both prefer blue jeans and T-shirts.
Like most people, they like to dress for comfort. Richard likes old shoes
that are well broken in. Karen has thing about fuzzy bedroom slippers, and
takes a pair to wear on tour in her dressing room.

Favorite food? Karen's favorite is spaghetti, home made fruit salad, Italian
egg-plant and barbecue rids. Richard just likes FOOD most any kind.

Richard and Karen both enjoy a game of pool. They have a pool table
installed in their home, and visitors challenged to a game, find they have
stiff competition.

Both enjoy movies and t.v. Richard particularly likes science fiction films.

Richard and Karen attended Long Beach State College.

See you later - Evelyn



NEWSLETTER #7 - 1971 November
The European tour is over and Richard and Karen are glad to be back home in
the good old U.S.A. There is no place like it, they say!

They were treated nicely in the countries they visited, especially England
and France. For sight-seeing they managed to visit the Eiffel Towel in
Paris, and take a boat ride on the scenic Amsterdam canals. They also saw
THE WALL in Berlin and spoke of it as depressing and heartbreaking.

Their London bound 747 was forced to land in Goose Bay, Newfoundland to
discharge a sick passenger, and after a 2 1/2 hour delay they were again
airborne. In London they did a T.V. Special with Tom Jones and discovered
what a "groovy" guy he is. They enjoyed his company and loved working with
him.

A T.V. Special in Berlin afforded them the opportunity to meet and work with
Lulu and Herman of The Hermits. They enjoyed dinner at Lulu's home one
evening and yet another friendship had been chalked up.

[Sakura]

NEWSLETTER #12 - April, 1972
April 29th Atlanta, Georgia, Municipal Auditorium

May 4th Honolulu, Hawaii, International Center

May 8-20th Sydney, Australia, Chevron Hotel

May 22nd Adelaide, Australia, Apollo Sports Center

May 24-25th Melbourne, Australia, Festival Hall

May 27th Brisbane, Australia, Festival Hall

May 30 Hong Kong

June 1-11th Japan, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Tokyo

July 7th Houston, TX, University of Texas, Hofheniz Pavilion


NEWSLETTER #13 - May, 1972
Q: Who is EV? A: That's me! I am their personal secretary. The reason I know
about their happenings and behind the scene episodes is because, with pad
and pencil I follow Karen from bedroom to bathroom to breakfast table and
take notes while she relates to me while she dresses and eats, all the sad
and funny things that have happened on the tour they've just complete.


NEWSLETTER #19 - November, 1972
Confirmation has just been received that Karen and Richard will start taping
with Robert Young for the "Robert Young With the Young" Special. The
tentative air date schedule for March 1st, 1973.

[Sakura]

NEWSLETTER #22 - February, 1973

　 Hi Fans and ATTENTION!
Karen and Richard spend a quiet Christmas at home with Mom & Dad. It
took them some time to open all their gifts which half filled with living
room. Gifts included a bike for each, for exercise when they're not on tour.

We've had numerous requests for instruments info and who plays what in
concert. So first all, Carpenters instruments: For grand pianos, Richard is
a Baldwin man. There is a grand piano in the living room and his music room
is home for a concert grand - both black. He keeps another concert grand
stored away for local concerts, TV appearance and recording. For electric
piano Richard uses the Wurlitzer and carries three while touring. His large
electric organ is a Kustom. Karen, of course, has Ludwig drums, 2 sets. Each
set consist of: bass, 20" snare, high hat, 13" top tom, 2floor tom toms, 14"
& 16", concert toms - 4", 6", 8" & 10" and Zildjian cymbals. Her petal is a
Rogers pedal and she used No. 11A drumsticks. Also found in the Carpenters
home is a guitar, a Univox electric bass and a Japanese stringed instrument
which was a gift to Richard from their Japanese promoter in Japan.

In concert, along with Richard who leads the group on electric piano,
and Karen, lead singer and drummer, there is: Bob Messenger on electric
bass, sax and flute. Doug Strawn on electric clarinet and organ. Gary Sims
on guitar. Tony Peluso on guitar and organ. Jim Anthony on percussion and
drums. Danny Woodhams on electric bass.

Doug, Gary and Danny help out with concert singing but do not sing on
records. The only voices you hear on Carpenters records and Karen's and
Richard's. They create the choir effect on record by over-dubbing. On their
album "Ticket to Ride" they had 39 voices - all theirs! Richard does all
arranging for both concerts and records and is also his own record producer.
At the present time Karen and Richard are spending many long hours at A&M
recording another album. If there are no set-backs it will be out in April.

[Sakura]

NEWSLETTER #35 - March, 1974
Concert business in Holmdel, New Jersey was incredible. They played to over
47,000 spectators, breaking the attendance record there, in spite or all the
rain. The theater was a setting with plush red carpets and seats. Richard
said the theater dome resembled a flying saucer. Karen enjoyed a little
shopping spree in the area.

The last ball game was played in Roosevelt Park against the DJs from New
York stations. A brass band played before 6,000 spectators who donated
$5,000.00 to the cancer society to which Richard & Karen added $5,000.00.
Danny injured his leg in the baseball practice game, and a staph infection
caused him so much pain, he was forced to play the last two numbers of the
concert seated. The doctor ordered him off his feet for the next two weeks.

Everyone was happy to see Tony (the bone) back with the group Sunday night,
after a long absence due to his illness since last June.


NEWSLETTER #38 - August, 1974
1.Can either Richard or Karen speak any foreign languages? A. Not enough to
complete conversation. Karen learned to sing "Sing" in Japanese and Spanish.
Q. Of the songs Richard has written, which is their favorite? A. Goodbye To
Love.


Q. Do either of them have hobbies? A. Karen does beautiful needlepoint.
Enjoys shopping, cooking, playing pool. Richard likes to listen to records,
watch science fiction films, drive sports cars, and read about old classic
cars.

Q. Do most of Richard & Karen's relatives live on the east coast of U.S.A.?
A. Most of their Mom's relatives live there. Dad's relatives reside in
Canada England and Australia.


NEWSLETTER #40 - December, 1974
The Astor Hotel in Chicago was 'old home' to them, as they'd stayed there on
previous occasions, but this time they shared it with other celebrities.
Latimore Horowitz and Elton John used the Astor as headquarters while doing
shows in or near Chicago. Groupie commotion there was endless.

Q. How many first cousins do Richard & Karen have? A. Twelve


Q. Does the red car on the cover of the "Now And Then" album belong to
Richard. A. Yes. It is his 1972 Ferrari G T C.

[Sakura]

Newsletter #４３ -1975　June

Q: Which Carpenter album has been the biggest seller? A: In the U.S. -
"Close To You". Worldwide - "The Singles".

Q: Has Karen ever tried to teach Richard to play drums? A. No.

Q. Have they ever appeared at the Troubadour and Whiskey-A-Go-GO? A.
Yes-when they were trying to break into the entertainment field.

Q. What were their favorite high school subjects? A. The favorite or both
was band. Richard also liked science, and typing and English were Karen's
other most liked subjects.

Q. Did they ever receive any scholastic awards? A: Richard received an award
in the Chamber Music category for his piano expertise. Karen received the
John Phillip Sousa award for drums.

Q. Do they each have their own doctor? A. No. They have a family doctor.
(Same one since moving to CA.

Q. Did they have any serious illnesses when they were youngsters? A: Richard
suffered frequent attacks or the croup, which at times forced him to fight
for his breath, but outgrew same with no adverse effects.

Q. Have Richard and Karen ever ridden horses? A. Richard wasn't interested,
but Karen loves horses, and rode quite often while in high school.

Q: What is their favorite Holiday of the year, and why? A. Christmas. It is
the one holiday they know they will be able to spend with family and
friends.

Q: Was Karen ever a cheerleader in high school? A: No. She always played in
the band.

Q: Does Karen have a favorite recipe she likes to prepare? A: She loves to
cook, and here is one of her many favorites.

PEACH MABEL

1 egg

1/4 cup sour cream

1/2 pt. whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup cold water

2 drops almond flavoring

4 tbsp. butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 box vanilla wafers

2 cups peaches

1/2 tsp. salt

1 envelope plain gelatin

Place wafers in plastic bag, crush with rolling pin, then spread on baseof
glass dish. Mix butter, sour cream, sugar, salt and flavors, blend
inblender. Add egg and blend again. Mix gelatin with cold water, and
blendwith other ingredients. Whip cream and add to peaches and other
ingredient. Pour into wafer crust and place in refrigerator for several
hours. The Nabisco vanilla wafers are available in most markets.

Hope to have more tour news next time. Rap later. Ev.


#44　1975　Ａｕｇｕｓｔ
Q: What is Richard's voice range? A: Low a for two octaves.

Q: What is Karen's voice range? A: D below middle C to C above high C.

Q: Who is Ron Gorow who is frequently credited on Carpenter albums? A: Ron
is Richard's copyist. He places the music notes on paper as Richard plays
them.

Q: How tall are Richard and Karen? What color hair and eyes? A: Richard-6ft.
Hazel eyes, light brown hair. Karen- 5ft. 4 1/2". Brown eyes and brown hair.



NEWSLETTER #47 - February, 1976

Q. Who designed Karen's dress that she wore at the American Music Awards? A.
Bob Mackie. (Ac designs many of Carol Burnett's outfits, too.)

Q. In which foreign countries have Karen and Richard performed? A. Europe,
Japan, Australia and Hong Kong.

Q. Is it true they were mentioned in the Congressional Record of Congress?
A. Yes. it was February 3, 1971.

Q. That constitute a platinum album? A. When a million dollars worth of
albums is sold, that constitutes a gold record, but when a million albums
are sold, this constitutes a platinum record. This may vary from country to
country according to the size and population.

Q. On which songs did Karen play bass? A. "Eve" and "All of My Life" on the
"Ticket to Ride" album.

Q. Do K & R read comics? A. Yes, they enjoy "Mama", "BC", "Wizard of Id",
"Tumbleweed" and "Doonesbury".

Q. Which songs did K & R & Wes Jacobs record for RCA which were never
released? A. There were four. "Stranger in the Night". "'Every Little
Thing", "Flat Baroque, and "I've Never Been In Love Before".

Q. What is their opinion of the new disco music sound? - A. As in all other
types of music, some they like; some they don't. Richard likes "Hustle",
"Get Down Tonight" and "Fly, Robin, Fly".

Q. What is their favorite song written by Richard? A. "Yesterday Once More"


#49 - August, 1976
Q. What was your first TV appearance and what age? A: "The All American
College Show" Karen was 17. Richard was 20.

Q. Did "HORIZON" hit gold? A. Yes. Both "HORIZON" and "A KIND OF HUSH" (the
album) were shipped gold. This means that over a million dollars worth of
records were shipped out on the very first shipment to stores.

Q. How long did Karen take drum lessons before becoming part of the
Carpenter Trio? A. She played snare drum in high school for 8 weeks but as
soon as she purchased her first drum set she was part of the trio. Her
talent was inborn and she had no need for private lessons.

Q. Which schools did K&R attend in New Haven? A. Elementary, Nathan Hale and
Wilbur Cross High.

Q. What aspect of the music business do K&R enjoy most? A. Presenting
concerts.

Q. Who created the beautiful Carpenter logo? A. The A & M Art Department


#50 - October, 1976　
FLASH! Just received word that Richard will NOT be driving his Ferrari in
the great race you will witness on TV Dec. 2. He merely used it for practice
to get the feel of the racetrack. He WILL be driving a Formula 5000, as will
his competitors. Now for some questions and answers:

Q. When did Richard & Karen sign with Herb Alpert? A. April 22, 1969 at
11:32 a.m.

Q. Does Karen like to wear hats? A. She is not a 'hat nut' but enjoys
wearing one occasionally.

Q. Are Richard & Karen interested in the Olympics? A. Yes. When they are not
at home when the Olympics are staged, they have Mom & Dad video-tape the
programs, so they can watch them later.

Q. Why didn't Karen play the drums on the album "A Kind Of Hush"? A. Richard
wanted to try some different sounds from stronger drummers.

Q. Did Richard & Karen enjoy staring their own TV special? A. YES. It was a
new and very thrilling experience to do their own Special. They enjoyed
working with John Denver & Victor Borge. two very likable and fun-loving
people. They had an excellent production crew who were a joy to be around.
Between shots, Victor kept them laughing. He can ad lib comedy faster than
writers can put it on paper. They feel fortunate in having acquired many
great new friends through the show.

Q. Was Karen singing before she started taking voice lessons? A. The only
voice study Karen had, was being part of Long Beach State Acapella Choir.

Q. What is Karen's voice range? A. D below middle C to C above high C.

Q. Does Richard ever write the lyrics for songs? A. Yes. though he hasn't
done so for some time. He leaves the lyrics to John Bettis now, who has more
time to concentrate on them.

Q. Has Karen ever written a song? A. No. She leaves the song writing to
Richard.

Q. When they fly, is it by tourist or first class? A. First class.

Q. How many people work on issuing the newsletter? A. Richard & Karen supply
most of the information (along with Mom & Dad) Ev usually types it. Rosina &
Patty supply the printer with names of all new members, change of addresses,
deletions etc. as well as getting it to the printer. From there it goes to a
mailing business where they are folded, placed in an envelope which has been
addressed, sealed and delivered to the post office.