HI Fans,

Carpenters "Books of Memories" get fatter and fatter each birthday and holiday, thanks to you thoughtful fans. Their greeting card book is especially plump since Karen & Mom Carpenters' birthdays. They both send sincere thanks for the lovely cards and gifts that arrived from countries throughout the world.

Commendations to our Japanese fans on their artistic talent. It is so profound it seems they are born with pencils in hand. It is evident in their letters which are embellished with beautiful sketches and colorings. Tiny handmade doll bookmarks are enclosed with some of the letters, or colorful, minute birds, frogs, windmills, men & woman, etc. cleverly created from small piceses of paper folded at various angles. Their handwriting, too, is artistically legible, their spelling is excellent and the messages they send are poetically phrased.

Carpenters new single Only Yesterday will win another gold record for them. Memos of advanced overseas sales are already pouring in. K & R were presented 2 gold records each for Please Mr. Postman from A & M Records. There will be more from the Record Industry as well as some from foreign countries for high sales. Both songs will be on their forthcoming album Horizons which they are recording now. Inquiries concerning the traveling Carpenter "family" have been numerous lately so will give you a thumbnail biography of each member.

BOB MESSENGER - birthday Sept. 30, has a wife Joan, a daughter Suzanne and a son Forrest. Bob was born in Pittsburgh, Kansas, raised in Bremerton, Wash. and later, moved to Lynwood, CA where he graduated from high school. While attending various universities, he played in several local groups for clubs and organizations in So. CA. In 1969 he signed with Carpenters as electric bass player, doubling on sax, flute and clarinet He is also adept at keyboard and string bass. He's worked in the commercial art field and still has an interest in it. He is a very quiet person, enjoys playing chess and is a member of several local chess clubs.

TONY PELUSO - birthday March 28, unmarried, born & raised in Los Angeles, CA. He Joined Carpenters in 1971 as a guitarist and vocalist and also doubles on electric bass and keyboard. Prior, he had his own group called Instant Joy who played back-up music for Paul Revere & the Raiders, Mark Lindsey and Bobby Sherman. Tony is also the producer of Bobbidazzler, a 5 piece group that has 2 brothers as lead singers. Watch for them on A & M Records. Bobbidazzler is a Scottish word which, in our present day slang means "outasite". Tony has recently written 2 songs, Sailing on the Tide and Happy. Both songs will be on Carpenters new album. Happy is also on the flip side of Only Yesterday.

DOUG STRATRAWN - birthday Sept. 4, unmarried, born in Long Branch, N.Y. and raised in Canton, Ohio. He was one of a barbershop quartet, Disneyland's "Dapper Dana" before Joining K & R as vocalist and instrumentalist in 1968. Doug plays electric clarinet, Organ and sax. He received his B A degree from Long Beach State and is the only graduate to perform senior recitals in three fields - vocal, clarinet and conducting. He is an excellent pianist, having studied piano for 9 years. Doug is outgoing, friendly and quite a comedian. His outside interests are boating; classical chorale and people.

DANNY WOODHAMS - birthday Jan. 8, married to London born Kay. No children. He was born in Ukiah, CA and raised in Sonora, CA. He attended Long Beach State where he met Richard through their mutual interest and membership in the college choir. As a vocalist and electric bass player, he was one of the first to Join Richard's group, then known as Spectrum (1967). Daytime he worked as a purchasing agent. Other talents include playing classical violin and classical guitar. His hobby is photography and he is specially good at portraits. Danny is friendly, outgoing and loves to learn about people by listening to them.

SHERWIN BASH - birthday April 19, wife's name is Bobby, 2 daughters, Kym & Randy. He was born and raised in New York City and has been in the music business for 25 years. He managed an unknown trumpet player and put him on the road to wealth fame. This same trumpet player, the great Mr. Herb Alpert later discovered Carpenters and became their boss at A & M Records. Mr. Bash is an excellent artist in commercial art and has had experience in, that field. He plays piano, though not professionally. He is very outgoing, warm, affectionate and happy. He loves his work, which includes being manager of K & R.

CURT MERCER - birthday Oct. 6, wife's name, Clare, 2 daughters, Cindee & Cecily. Curt was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y. He was an actor for 16 years working in musicals, comedies, films, stage, and TV. His interest eventually turned to theatrical production and for a time, worked as production manager for various films and stage shows. He being an expert at lighting and worked as lighting manager for many famous "middle of the road" musicians and singers. These included Herb Albert, Peter Nero, Mitzi Gaynor, Joey Heatherton & Sammy Davis Jr. He was with Burt Bacharach when he met R & K and accepted their offer to be their full time lighting manager. Curt is very creative and enjoys building miniature railroads, towns and castles. He collects books on King Arthur and Lawrence of Arabia. He enjoys playing basketball and for a time was a semi-professional player in an Eastern league.

ROGER YOUNG - birthday July 1, unmarried. A native Californian, he was born in Long Beach and raised in Buena Park. He was a music major at Long Beach State, studying French horn and the trumpet Though he was attending K & R's Alma Mater at the same time they were, their paths never crossed and they did not know each other while students there. After college, he worked at A & M Recording Studio as a sound engineer where he finally met Carpenters. He now travels with them as their sound engineer for concerts, records and TV. Extremely friendly, he loves to joke, likes to listen to music and is an avid baseball fan He hopes for second base position when Carpenters play softball this summer.

MARK RUDOLPH - birthday Aug. 2, nickname "Bear", wife's name Janet, no children. Born and raised in Baltimore, Ma. First cousin to K & R. (His mom and their mom are sisters.) He joined the group as a roadie in June 1971 after graduating from high school, and soon worked his way up to Road Manager. He loves to play football and was a member of his high school football team. He feels very much at home in a kitchen where he loves to try out new recipes; and best of all he loves to eat what he cooks.

SANDY HOLLAND - birthday Sept. 16, native of California, she was born in Burbank and raised in Van Nuys. While employed at Baron's Hair Styling in Studio City, she was recommended to Karen by a mutual friend. She joined the roadies in March 1974 as Karen's hairdresser. She is very artistic and creative in both needlepoint and beadwork. She loves to be with people she loves traveling and is very fond of animals, including her own English Cocker.

ROBERT WELLBORN - birthday Dec. 3, wife's name, Becky, no children. He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and has worked most of his young life in recording studios as an audio engineer. He joined R & K in that capacity in May 1974. A quiet man, he enjoys playing the guitar and for outdoor activity, he likes motorcycle riding.

KEN BLACK - birthday Nov. 4, unmarried. Born in South Gate, CA and raised in nearby Lynwood. He played trombone in the Warren High School Band and after graduation worked as an assistant to his dad, Keith, renowned builder of racing engines. An excellent mechanic, Ken worked on one of Richard's cars and soon became interested in the group, finally them in July 1974. He now serves them as sound equipment technician.

JACK GRIFFITH - birthday Nov. 20, wife's name Shirley, proud father of a baby daughter. He was born in Brymar, PA and raised in King of Prussia, PA. He worked in the rhythm section of a musical group before joining Carpenters as a roadie. Newly hired, he will help set up drums and equipment and give a hand wherever it is needed. He loves sports and was an active participant in a Palm Springs softball league.

SANDY SPEVACK - birthday Sept. 25, unmarried. The Bronx, N.Y. was his birthplace and home until he moved to Los Angeles at the age of 14. After graduating from Hamilton High School, he entered the electronics field, both manufacturing and working with theatrical lighting equipment. Now one of Carpenters roadies, he works as a sound technician. He is a baseball and hockey fan, likes riding horseback, traveling, and meeting people. He is an animal lover and owns an Irish Setter named "Monday".

CUBBY O'BRIEN - was unavailable for an interview so will feature him in the next newsletter

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE CHANGE AND SOME ADDITIONS:

Riviera Club in as Vegas has been moved up 2 weeks. Instead of June 12 to 25, They will appear May 29th to June 11th. Their appearance in Erie, Pa. on July 20 will be at the County Field House. Also ADD to your schedule: April 21st - Fayetteville, N.C. at the Cumberland County Memoria1 Arena.

The following is for the month of May:

May 9th - Topeka, Kansas - Municipal

May 10th & 11th - Kansas City, Kansas - Memoria1 Hall

May 12th - Sioux City, Iowa - Municipal Aud.

May 13th - Bismark, ND - Civic Arena

Aug. 15th - Duluth, Minn. - Arena

Aug. 16th - Omaha, Neb. - Civic Auditorium

Aug. 17th - Minneapolis, Minn. - Auditorium

Aug. 19th thru 25th - Westchester, N.Y. - Premiere Theater

The Carpenter family and the Carpenter staff wish all of you a very Happy Easter and Passover, though we know the wish is a bit late. Also, a million thanks for the lovely Easter cards we have received. Carpenters will again have a softball team this summer and have 4 games scheduled - July 17th in Pine Knot, July 22 in Wallingford, July 29 in Warwick and Aug. 5th in the Garden State exact date, to be announced in next newsletter.

Rap in June EV.

Last changed: Thu Jun 16 00:03:33 EDT 2005