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 are 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.

Negotiations for their own TV special have Been completed. It will be sponsored by Anheuser-Busch Company. If you recall, they sponsored the John Wayne Special last year. Part of the package was for Karen and Richard to appear in Houston at the Music Hall during the Anheuser convention. Their personal appearance there on the 17th was complete surprise to the convention delegates. But needless to say the response they received was warm, loud and long. Carpenters were concealed in the orchestra pit, which, on cue, raised to become part of the stage. Appearing with Karen and Richard were Ed McMahon of Johnny Carson fame, and the Burgundy Street Singers. There is not date set, as yet, for the taping or airing of this Special but we'll let you know as soon as this bit of information is revealed to us. Though their stay in Houston was brief, they were assigned a two floor suite in one of Houston's plush hotels. Karen said she has never seen a bathroom door as large as the one in her bedroom suite - 4 panels wide. They went to see The Arbors who were appearing in Houston but found that their casual dress was a NO-NO. Two of the fellows in their group were without coats and ties so none of the group went in. There was a sad note of the performance. The vice-president of Busch who was the MC for the program collapsed on stage from a heart attack and was rushed to a hospital. Karen and Richard found out before they left Houston that he would be O.K. Backstage they conversed with Mr. August Busch II and Mr. August Busch III. Richard and Karen were very impressed with these two fine men and with the friendliness extended to them by all of the Busch people.

And now, Fans, - revealed for the first time - the identity of Sugar Bear. Yes there really is such a person. His real name is Mark Rudolph. He is first cousin to Karen and Richard. He hails from Baltimore, MD where his mother, father, sister and two brothers still live. Bear loves fun, food (especially chocolate chip cookies), motorcycles, girls, bowling playing pool and swimming. Oh yes, Richard and Karen and Bear each bought a brand new motorcycle and the three of them enjoy riding together around Downey. So now you know the right-hand man of Richard and Karen.

Will rap more next month, EV.

Last changed: Sat Jun 4 00:07:33 EDT 2005