Hi Fans:

There will be something entirely new on the next Carpenters 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, and Richard's buddy Wes Jacobs flew in from Michigan to play tuba.

We were privileged to attend the taping at A & M Studios, and we found the sound stage filled to capacity with musicians. Four t.v. stations had mini-cams there to film footage or 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 was entered in three car shows the week of June 20th at Lake Tahoe, and won an award in each event, Monday the 20^th 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 Rena, Nevada.

For those or you keeping a list or Richard's collection, here are four more to add. There are two 1953 Studebaker Starliners, one red, one black, a 1982 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 total or Richard's collection to 54.

There will be a Carpenters T.V. 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 Carpenters concerts are tentatively scheduled for your countries before the year's The schedule for the balance or the year is as follows:

August 2nd-15th, Harrah's Club, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

October 12th-2lst, Tour of Japan.

November 2nd and 3rd, Manila, Philippines.

November 5th-l7th, Tour or Australia.

November 24th and 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 point.

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

Agnes was the second or four 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 end Bernice followed 3 1/2 and 7 years later. While attending Western High School on Hilton St, Agnes excelled in sports and won a medal for her excellent participation in basketball. Although her dad was part owner or Tatum, Fritz & Goldsmith wholesale clothing business, she was an excellent seamstress, and made many or the coats dresses worn by the four 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 when Harold stopped by to visit Jack Daisy, a mutual friend who resided at the Brancheau's residence, when Jack introduced them to each other, it was the beginning of a four year courtship.

They were married in Catonsteille Methodist Church by Pastor Jay Turnbull Spicknel, April 9th 1935 At 7:00 p.m. 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 and Karen were born.

In 1942, to contribute to the war efforts Agnes worked for Metler Bros. 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 Co. where she again proved to be a top machine operator.

In 1983 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 Corporation (now known as Rockwell International.) About the time she lost her job there due to the Apollo cut-back, Karen & Richard had signed a recording contract with A & M Record 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 and Richard wanted, and the move into the new Downey home was made in Nov. 1971.

Mom had been very fortunate having enjoyed good health all her life. She's had no serious injuries, accidents, illnesses or operations. Her tonsils were removed by cautery in a doctor's office. Her favorite foods are steak, cantaloupe & ice cream. Colors-yellow, orchid & red, music-semi-classical favorite t.v. 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.

Last changed: Wed Jul 13 20:51:33 EDT 2005