Hi Fans!

Richard conveys his warm appreciation for the lovely birthday cards and gifts so many at you sent him.

He celebrated his 27th birthday at home Sunday evening with a small group of intimate friends, including good friend Allen Osmond.

Two days later Richard & Karen were on their way to Portland, Maine to start another tour. We'll pick them up now in Corvallis, Oregon where sound system troubles had flown right along with them to bug their concert. Their hotel, an hour's drive from the concert hall was so near a railroad track, the trains shook them awake every time one passed by.

The really great audience in Bozeman, Montana compensated for the barn-like concert hall that gave them sound troubles. They were rewarded with four standing ovations. It was in a Bozeman restaurant that joker Bill Skile sauntered in wearing a miner's hat. and proceeded to read the menu from the light of the attached lamp:

En route to Missoula, one of the trucks got two flat tires, consequently they did not arrive at the concert hall until 6:00 p.m.. In setting up their equipment that evening. the roadies movements must have been reminiscent of the very early Keystone Kops flicks-quick, quick. quick! By 7:30 they were all set for lights action!

Twin Falls, Idaho brought back fond memories to Richard & Karen. for it was there they had staged their very first performance two years previously to an audience of 400 people. The numbers had swelled to 6000 this time!

Even the weather set out a WELCOME BACK sign for them in the shape of old man Sun. There were more sound troubles for them in San Diego. (Drat that TWA, the sound board hasn't worked right since they dropped it.) In spite a the annoyance the audience was truly great. The drive from the Carpenter home in Downey to San Diego is a very lovely one, and Richard was happy for the chance to drive his Ferrari there and back.

The huge arena there was large enough to house two events simultaneous and they discovered the other half was being set up for the TV show Wide World Of Sports to be taped the following day. Richard also drove his little red car to their gig in Bakersfield where they enjoyed a game of golf in part of the auditorium before staging their show. They enjoy doing local concerts where they can do their own driving. so they were happy to make a return engagement to Fresno California too.

The eight San Carlos shows were sold out, and it was their first experience working on a revolving stage which is terrific for the audience. Misfortune struck Pete here, in the middle of the act his bass broke.

Each night Bill made a zany entrance for his appearance with Karen in the Johnny Angel number, and no two shows were alike. One show he appeared as a cowboy, another as a skin diver, but perhaps the craziest of all was when he was attired in garment size plastic bags not unlike those used by dry cleaning establishments. He'd come flying down the aisle on a bicycle or drive nonchalantly to the stage in a golf cart, hitting fake golf balls from the aisle into the audience. The two shows a day there afforded them the luxury of eating their dinner before midnight as they managed to eat between shows.

This takes them through May. Next newsletter will find them in Acapulco, Mexico, where they staged two concerts for an IBM Salesmen's convention. Their brief stay there was to be the only vacation planned for this year, and they enjoyed ten days in magnificent surroundings.

A reminder to letter writers: We have been receiving letter signed with first names only, and NO RETURN ADDRESS ON EITHER LETTER OR ENVELOPE. It's usually those letters where even the postmark is either obliterated or just stamped "U.S.-Postal Service". Will you PLEASE remember to sign your last name, and write your return address. Thank you.

Don't forget to order your Carpenter keepsakes early if you plan on giving them for Christmas gifts.

Carpenters and Fan Club staff wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving..

Rap later. EV.

Last changed: Tue Jun 7 15:20:33 EDT 2005