Hi fan!

The following is a statement from Richard concerning the Neil Sedaka/Las Vegas affair: "When the Carpenters play concerts, they invite someone to be their opening act. In the case of our last summer tour and Las Vegas engagements, we asked Neil Sedaka to open the show. It often happens in our business, not only with the Carpenters, but also with other headliners, that the choice or the opening act proves to be unsuitable for personal, or other reasons. Under those circumstances, the headliner has no option but to terminate the engagement of the opener. This was the situation with Neil.

Please be assured that we DID NOT fire Neil Sedaka for doing too well. In fact we were delighted that he was receiving a nice response from the audience. It was a result or other circumstances of which he is totally aware that made it necessary for us to terminate his engagement. Since he has full knowledge of all the background acts, it is a disappointment to us that he had found it necessary to make statements concerning same to the press. Personally, the Las Vegas/Sedaka issue is an old matter, and right now I am much more concerned with Karen's health, and writing new songs".

Carpenters send sincere regrets to their loyal fans in Japan for the cancellation or the Japanese tour due to Karen's illness. She appreciates your sympathetic understanding, and deep concern for her health. She is very slowly improving, but has been prohibited by her physicians from all physical and professional activities until the end or October.

Richard flew to Japan with Terry Ellis (Karen's boyfriend) for a Press conference and business meeting with the Japanese promoters. And Richard made a public announcement to the people or Japan. They hope to return next Spring.

Many thanks from Karen for the numerous get well cards, and from Richard for the lovely birthday cards.

We now have in stock some brand new Carpenters keepsakes, and have new prices for some or the old items.

Item U.S. Members Foreign Members

POCKET SIZE MEMO PAD WITH COVER (RED or BLACK) $.50 $.75

PENNANT WITH NEW SILHOUETTE (AUTOGRAPHED) $1.00 $1.25

FLUORESCENT DECALS (SELF ADHESIVE) 10 FOR $1.00 $1.25

DESK ORGANIZER (avocado or YELLOW) $1.50 $2.00

FAN CLUB STATIONERY PAD (100 SHEETS) $2.00 $2.25

SET of NEWSLETTERS WITH COVER $1.75 $2.50

POSTER "D" (THE LATEST) $1.75 $2.50

COASTERS (YELLOW/BLACK SILHOUETTE) SET or 6 $2.00 (SETS ONLY) $2.25

New prices for existing merchandise

BOOK COVERS 6 for $1.00 $1.50

SEW ON PATCH 2 for $1.00 $1.25

T-SHIRTS (CHILDREN'S-ALL SIZES & COLORS) $2.00 $2.00

T-SHIRTS (ADULT'S-ALL SIZES & COLORS) $2.50 $3.00

CHARM BRACELET $2.00 $2.50

POSTERS $2.00 $3.00

NEEDLEPOINT KITS (BELTS OR FRAMES) STATE COLOR $3.50 $4.25

BELT BUCKLE (CAST) CARPENTER LOGO $4.00 $4.25

POSTER B $1.50 $2.25

PLEASE NOTE ABOVE FOR COLLECTING REFERENCE ONLY - DO NOT TRY TO ORDER NOW!!!.

The baseball game scheduled for Japan was rained out. Richard, supported by King Records personnel, planned to play against local D.Js, but a downpour benched his good intentions. Of the six games played state-side, the Carpenters won all but one. They lost the first game to the Pine Knob all Stars 21-18. In Hartford, Connecticut they were the victors when they played Channel 3 TV celebrities. The score 20-2. Games 3 and 4 were played in Warwick, Rhode Island. Carpenters won the first game 15-13 in 9 innings against WPRO Radio celebrities Pro team. Determined to beat the Carpenters, Warwick fortified their team by adding former professional ball players, and challenged them to a second game which was played in 105 degree heat. At the end of the first inning, Carpenters had already scored 5-0. On Warwick's last up, with two outs, Richard went back into the outfield and made a lucky crazy catch which was a fluke, but resulted in another score for the Carpenters 19-11.

Garden State was also host for two games. The first was played against Garden State newsmen, and celebrities from WNBC Radio and ABC TV including some or the Stars of All My Children. That score was 18-8 in favor of the Carpenters. They accepted the challenge from another team for second game, winning by one point 13-12. This time they played the theater crew and local Sheriff's Deputies. All games were once again played for the benefit or the Cancer Society, and were acknowledged with letters, certificates or trophies.

The Summer tour was the most extensive & exhausting one they'd ever had, dating from April 3 to September 3. In Toronto they did 5 shows in 3 days which left no time for sightseeing or shopping. Cubby turned another year older in Cuyahoga Falls, so they bought him birthday cake, then found he was on diet and couldn't indulge! He exercised extreme will power.

In Pine Knob, Michigan they managed to spend some time with old buddy Wes Jacobs who was part of the Carpenter trio back in '65 and '66. Wes played bass with them when they won so many trophies in the Hollywood Bowl "Battle of The Bands". He still plays tuba with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

After their Erie, Pennsylvania gig, they new (the same night) to Wallingford, Connecticut, and got lost from the airport to their hotel. John Bettis, the other half of the Carpenter/Bettis song writing team, joined them there, and all enjoyed visiting relatives and old friends. Mrs. Catello Citicello, the former Debbie Vaiuso, a New Haven schoolmate and close friend of Karen, invited them to dinner where they thoroughly enjoyed good old fashioned, home cooked Italian meal.

Another old friend, Jim Anthony also paid them visit. Jim was drummer for the Carpenters several years ago. Karen enjoyed shopping spree with New Haven friends, patronizing some of the stores she remembered from her childhood days.

In Warwick, the 105 degrees temperature climbed to 121 degrees on stage, and by the time the gig ended, they were all drenched in their own perspiration.

They were delighted with Newport, which Karen described as a 'cute' town. Their hotel was located short distance from where Jaws had been filmed.

August 2nd was "Bear's" birthday, as well as the 2nd wedding anniversary of Pete and Lenny Henderson, so the gang surprised the three of them with party. Cubby & Richard did the driving here in two identical rental cars, and one night, Cubby unknowingly drove off in Richard's car. Cubby's car key happened to fit Richard's car, but unfortunately Richard's key didn't fit Cubby's car, so once again Richard was stranded. This time he rented one of the hotel's limos and did his own driving to the Warwick gig.

While performing in Columbia, Maryland, they were houseguests of their Aunt and Uncle, Mr. & Mrs., Paul Rudolph and family.

In Maryland, they always look forward to crab feast, and this time they enjoyed one at Gordons Seafood restaurant, where they later did some impromptu entertaining, much to the delight or the manager and other diners.

The Astor Tower was home to them during their Chicago engagement at the ??vinia. Karen described the gig as 'weird' because they couldn't see the ?0,000 people in the audience seated on the lawn.

The Captain & Tenille attended one of their performances, and Richard and Karen returned the compliment by attending one or their shows while in Chicago. They also saw Gino Vanelli at "Mr. Kelly's".

After Chicago, they were to have six day breather before opening in Las Vegas, so, with the biggest part of the tour behind them, they boarded the jet for - happy flight home.

We're all trying to get Karen well enough now for their European tour. Hope to have much better of her next time. Rap again. EV.

Last changed: Fri Jun 17 23:58:33 EDT 2005