Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #51 - January, 1977
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
Richard, Karen, Mom & Dad Carpenter, Fan Club Staff & EV sincerely wish for each of you a happy and most successful 1977.
1976 was an eventful year for Karen & Richard . Their TV special received excellent reviews and high ratings. (Nielson was # 6 nationwide for that week). They are hopeful of presenting another in 1977 but plans and schedules for this new year have not been completed. They will appear at HARRAHS club at Lake Tahoe February 19th through ??.
Silver, gold and platinum records were delivered to their Downey home January 5th; nine for each of them. Denmark sent platinum ones for Now And Then and The Singles. The United Kingdom was presenter of the remaining seven, sending a silver for Please Mr. Postman, gold for Horizon and A Kind of Hush; and platinum for The Singles, Horizon and Now And Then. The A & M Hamlet label of the United Kingdom earned them a platinum record for their Ticket To Ride album. We have also been notified that the Ticket To Ride album hit gold in Holland.
Their European tour was a great success. There was a sellout of all concert hall tickets long before they were due to arrive in Europe. They presented 2 shows an evening and on one occasion, a third performance was given. It was Karen's idea to give a third show a benefit for needy children, and price admission tickets "a toy for a tot". This not only benefited needy tots, but also several thousand fans who had been unable to secure concert tickets because of the speedy sellout. One of their concerts was taped by England A & M and a Live in England album was on the English market several days after Karen & Richard arrived home. Unfortunately, it will not be released in the U.S. Any information concerning availability must be secured from A & M in England. Karen's terrific drum solo which she now performs in concerts, and Richard's beautiful rendition of the Warsaw Concerto have both been captured on this English album. There is also a song by Karen, never before done by her on a record - Richard's beautiful arrangement of From This Moment On. Karen & Richard enjoyed the tour which went very smoothly and for a change was free of electrical problems in spite of the difference in electrical systems. My apologies to all for the lateness the newsletter. Extra Christmas chores deterred me from regular work and it was impossible to get a letter written. The newsletter will be sent alternate months beginning January and ending November each year.
After many disappointing delays, Karen has finally moved into her condominium. I've had no opportunity to see it yet, but have been told it's a beauty. Workers still go in and out making adjustments, adding final touches here and there and making last minute installations. Karen tries to work around them, placing beautiful gifts she's received and items she purchased on shelves or in drawers. Friends stop by to greet her and take the grand tour. Deliveries by various delivery men are numerous. The first ring of the doorbell each day ushers in instant bedlam, but Karen loves every minute of this new kind of excitement and even took time to bake some Christmas cookies in her new kitchen.
The beautiful Christmas cards you so thoughtfully sent were draped on Christmas ribbon and strung wall to wall, row upon row n the fan club office. When finally removed, they will be placed in their books of memories for future enjoyment. Many thanks from Carpenters and staff for your thoughtfulness and for your years of loyalty and support.
For auto buffs interested in Richard's collection, here are a few more to add to the list published in newsletter # 50.
1956 Chrysler 300 B, white
1957 Chrysler 300 C, white
1959 Chrysler 300 E, white
1962 Chrysler 300 H, blue
1964 Chrysler 300 K, white
1965 Chrysler 300 L, dark green
1963 T-Bird, red
1959 DeSoto Sportsman Fireflite, 2 door tan
1959 DeSoto Sportsman Fireflite,4 door blue
1977 Corvette, yellow
Cars which were repainted by prior owners will be restored to their original color. The Corvair, blue when Richard purchased it, has now been restored to its original white.
By popular request, more questions and answers.
Q. Will a single be released with Richard as soloist?
A. No plans for one in the near future.
Q. Who designs Karen's lovely new stage outfits?
A. Designers at Workroom 27 in L.A.
Q. Where does Richard keep all of his cars?
A. He has rented a storage garage near home but plans to build one of his own.
Q. Does he actually drive each one or are they just an investment?
A. They are an investment, but after complete restoration, he will drive each of them from time to time.
Q. Have either of them ever attended a high school reunion?
A. No. There's only been one of Richard's class and he was on tour at the time. Karen's class hasn't had one.
Q. What do they enjoy doing on a date?
A. They enjoy movies, a good stage play or concerts by their favorite artists.
Q. Has Richard ever tried to grow a mustache?
A. No.
Q. Do they watch All My Children, the TV "soap"?
A. Neither are into "soaps" but Karen enjoys The Family. They both enjoy most of the sitcoms.
Q. Have either of them ever visited schools to discuss music with the students?
A. While vacationing in Connecticut a couple years ago, they stopped by Nathan Hale Elementary school which they both had attended, to visit former teachers; but no arrangement had been made for any discussions with the students. When Richard was attending Long Beach State College, he spent a couple hours with a class of kindergarten students in one of the elementary schools, playing piano for them. A few days later, Richard received, from the teacher, pictures drawn by the students expressing their feeling concerning his music. All pictures expressed love and appreciation of his renditions in one way or another. One youngster, when questioned by the teacher concerning details of his picture, explained it was a piano with bubbles foaming out. When she asked him if he didn't mean 'floating', he said "No, I mean foaming, because music was so light". He also served on a panel for an extension course at U.C.L.A. The course, "This Business of Music" was sponsored by BILLBOARD. Other panelists serving with Richard were Frank Zappa, composer and guitarist; John Kay, lead singer of Steppenwolf; Jackie DeShannon, singer and composer; and Quincy Jones, composer, arranger and producer. (Karen was there as part of the audience.)
Q. What is the last line from Boat To Sail?
A. The last 4 lines when printed as a lyric, read:
All those letters mailed, from a
Boat to sail, away ah
We are riding in a boat to sail
We are riding in a boat to sail.
(Karen fades out singing "DeShannon is back", but this was not written as part of the song.)
Q. Who does the bass vocal in Boat To Sail?
A. Richard.
Q. Has Herb Alpert performed on any other Carpenters record other than Offering?
A. No.
Q. Did they ever record Cinderella Rockafella?
A. No. They only did this song in concerts.
Q. Have either of them ever contributed in any way to another artist's records?
A. No.
Q. Have they ever recorded any of their songs in French or Spanish?
A. No.
Q. Did you ever record the song You and Me Against the World?
A. No.
Q. What kind of piano does Richard play when recording and on tour?
A. Wurlitzer for electric and Baldwin for grand.
Karen & Richard left today for a week's vacation in Hawaii. They've been there several times to do concerts but could never stay long enough to enjoy the beauty of the islands. We all hope they enjoy their stay there, don't we?
NOTE: The live album they recorded in England is entitled Live at the Palladium.
Rap in March, EV.


Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #52 - March, 1977
 
Hi Fans,
Karen and Mom Carpenter send much thanks for your thoughtfulness in remembering their birthdays. The lovely cards arriving from fans throughout the world are being secured in their "Books of Memories". We never refer to these books as scrapbooks because the material contained in them is NOT scrap. From the day of their birth, Mom Carpenter has been very diligent in saving clippings concerning them, printed programs from various performances in which K & R participated, school awards and certificates, and of course, family snapshots and photos. For the past 7 years your contributions of letters, greeting cards, stories, plays, poems, artwork, telegrams, snapshots, etc. have increased the Memories collection from a few books to well over a hundred. Visitors in the Carpenter home are delighted to be shown the collection and are amazed at the lovely numerous items that have been preserved for them. Thank you for helping to make this remarkable "Memories" library possible.
ATTENTION COLIECTORS: We have some brand new colored photos of K & R taken from their TV Special. They are 8" X 10" and will enhance any wall in any home. Price is the same as the earlier ones ($X.XX each for U.S. members and $X.XX each for foreign). There's beautiful shot of Karen in the lovely chiffon and sparkly dress she wore, another of Richard in blue sweater at the Wurlitzer piano, and a third of the two of them together standing. These are available only through the Fan Club and will be a collector's item.
Now with new questions:
Q. What kind of car does Karen own?
A. Unlike her brother, she owns only one. It is a Mercedes Benz 350 SL. (1972)
Q. Has Richard added any cars to his collection since the last newsletter?
A. Yes, five more. (1) 1963 Chrysler - 300J (2) 1955 Chrysler - C300 (3) 1977 Pontiac Transam Firebird (4) 1959 Dodge - Custom Royal (5) 1958 Chrysler - 300D. He also has a '76 Ferrari on order.
Q. What has been their most memorable occasion?
A. There have been a number of memorable occasions, but the one that means the most to them is the day that their single Close To You became number one on all charts.
Q. If they were not entertainers, what career would they have chosen?
A. Both would have chosen some segment of the entertainment field.
Q. Who plays castanets and vibes on their albums?
A. Karen & Richard.
Q. Did Karen or Richard ever participate in sports when they attended high school?
A. No. They were members of the marching band whose members were excused from gymnasium classes. Karen played glockenspiel, then snare drum. Because of Richard's superb piano ability, he was given classical piano assignments and was left at the piano to practice while the band members were practicing marching.
Q. How old was Karen when she began playing drums?
A. Sixteen.
Q. Do they object to pictures being taken while they are performing?
A. Absolutely NOT.
Q. When sales are counted for possible gold and/platinum records, are the sales of 8 track tapes and cassettes counted too?
A. Yes, they are counted.
Q. What does A. & M. stand for?
A. The last names of the owners of the recording studio. A is Alpert (Herb) and M Moss (Jerry).
Q Does Karen read music?
A. Yes.
Q. What is the name of K & R's Publishing company?
A. They have two. One is Ars Nova and the other is Hammer and Nails.
Q. Have either of them ever had a complexion problem?
A. No. Their skin has always been soft and clear; possibly due to the fact that neither of them were great "sweets eaters" during their adolescent years.
Q. What is the longest Karen's hair has ever been?
A. About three inches below her shoulders.
Q How many members are there in the fan club?
A. About 10,000. We wish to keep it small so it can be handled on a personal bases. Large fan clubs become very impersonal and many are computerized.
Q. What are the ages of Mush and Lady?
A. To new members - Mush and Lady are Karen's dogs, Lady, her Belgian Shepherd is 12 years old and Mush, her Samoed will be 6 years old in October.
Q. From overseas - What is a sitcom -- a condominium -- Bleachers?
A. Sitcom and condominium are new U.S.A. words. Bleachers has been used for quite some time. Sitcom is a Situation Comedy on T.V. A condominium is a flat or apartment which has been purchased by the tenant. Karen purchased two (side by side) in a very elegant building and tore down the wall between them to make one huge luxurious suite. Bleachers are wooden stands that serve as seats for spectators.
Q. That are the white spots that appear on their house on the Now And Then album cover?
A. They are white rocks that have been worked into the design of the exterior.
NOTE: just received more information concerning the Spanish version of Sing. It is called CANTA and is on the flip side of Jambalaya.
The days they spent in Canada taping the Dorothy Hamill Special were cold. Weather below zero. From Canada, they flew to Lake Tahoe where they appeared at Harrah's Club for four days. The day they were to return home, Mother Nature detained them for hours by sending a blizzard that grounded all planes in Tahoe. It took some time for roads to be cleared and a 1imo took them to Reno where weather conditions were a bit better and they were able to leave. Mr. Harrah generously furnished one of his private planes for the flight home. Karen's birthday was a quiet one, spent with family and to close friends. A birthday dinner was enjoyed at home and all viewed the Dorothy Hamill show. Richard has been spending most of his time researching songs for another album and arranging those he finds suitable. It will be awhile before another album is released as their performance schedule will interrupt the work that Richard must complete before actual recording starts. Karen has been busy arranging her new home to her satisfaction and enjoys shopping for the household items she needs. Her favorite room is her huge bright kitchen where she loves trying out recipes from the wealth of cook books she has accumulated. Like her mom, she is an excellent cook.
NOTE: The 76 Ferrari mentioned on page 1 has arrived, bringing the number of cars in his collection to 45. This Ferrari is a beautiful silver-gray with black interior.
There's been a number of requests for a thumbnail bio of Mom and Dad Carpenter so if a goes well, I will try to honor this request in the next issue. They are so busy helping Richard in the refurbishing of his cars, it is very difficult to get them to sit still long enough for an interview. I'll see what I can do between now and May 1st. Rap then, EV


Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #53 - May, 1977
 
Hi Fans!
This is EV apologizing for the lateness of this letter. Twice in April I was called back to Wisconsin because of the illness and then the death of a very dear aunt. Congratulations from Carpenters and staff to those of you who will be graduating next month. We all wish you much success in whatever you choose to do, whether it is to continue your education or start a career.
You are all probably aware by now of Karen & Richard's latest single All You Get From Love Is A Love Song which was released May 2, 1977. They chose for the flip side, the beautiful love ballad written by John Bettis and arranged by Richard I Have You taken from their last album A Kind Of Hush. In keeping with the current mode, the new single has a swinging upbeat style guaranteed to get you dancing and tapping your toes! We have high hopes for it's success on the charts in the very near future.
Karen and Mom wish to convey once again their very grateful thanks for the lovely cards they received from you all for their recent birthdays. A dinner party at home with close friends of the family was the highlight of both birthdays. Richard recently entered eight cars from his collection in the Long Beach Concours D'Elegance car show which was an elegant spectacle. It was held in the Shipside parking lot of the beautiful Queen Mary which served as an elegant background for picture taking. Though he received no awards, he enjoyed the novelty of participation in his first competition. He also enjoyed conversing with other car enthusiasts. Spectators derived much pleasure from viewing the cars while listening to Carpenters music which was played on the public address system. Richard's entries were: 1929 Desoto Deluxe coupe in Vintage vehicle Class. 1954 Corvette Roadster, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible & 1958 Chrysler 300.D Convertible entered the "Nifty Fifties" class. 1965 Plymouth Convertible in "Modern Motorcars". 1965 Corvette Convertible and 1969 Jaguar XKE Coupe entered the "Contemporary" Division.
The latest additions to his collection (which now numbers 50) are a 1960 Pontiac Bonneville, 1961 Lincoln Continental, 1970 Plymouth Hemicuda, 1977 Chevrolet Caprice and 1957 Plymouth Golden Fury. Mom and Dad were delighted to receive a 1930 model A Ford Roadster as a gift from Karen and Richard to mark the occasion of their 42nd Wedding Anniversary, April 9th. Numerous friends helped them celebrate by attending a lovely party in their home, hosted by Karen and Richard. Buffet tables were set up in the huge music room where guests dined and were treated to beautiful piano renditions by Richard.
In response to numerous requests, we now have a supply of new T-shirts featuring the new logo/silhouette available as follows: Children's size 16 only, white shirt/red logo. White shirt/green logo. Adult sizes, small, medium, large. ex-large. White shirt/red trim neck and sleeves with matching logo. White shirt/navy blue trim neck, sleeves with matching logo. Also, all sizes (adult) except ex-large white shirt/no trim, but a beautiful color green logo Prices as follows: U.S.A. children's shirts XX.XX. U.S.A. Adult's shirts XX.XX. Overseas children's shirts XX.XX. Overseas adult's shirts XX.XX. These are a superior quality 100% cotton, pre-shrunk and very attractive.
It is with much regret that in order for Karen and Richard to complete their new album, they have been compelled to cancel all tours for the month of June. They apologize to all disappointed fans.
I apologize for omitting in an earlier newsletter the lovely gift the Dutch Carpenters Fan club presented to Karen and Richard while touring Holland last November. It was a magnificent delft porcelain plate depicting one of Holland's famous windmills, and set on to a wooden plaque which is appropriately engraved in remembrance of their visit. A very charming gesture which is cherished with happy memories.
The following additions to the schedule are now at hand-
June 30 through July 13, MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.
August 2 through 15, Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
A tour of Japan is scheduled for September 14 through October 6, but no list of cities is available at this time.
Memorial Day weekend promises to be a very memorable fun time for Karen and Richard. They have been invited to Las Vegas to be a part of a Celebrity baseball team who has challenged The Press. Other celebrities who will participate include Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Roy Clark, Rich Little, Alice Cooper, Ann Margaret, Connie Stevens, Ronnie Shore, Bruce Jenner will be there and may participate if his broken leg completely heals. Others who have been invited are Lee and Farah Faucett Majors, Wayne Newton, Jerry Lewis, Henry Winkler (The Fonz), Cindy Williams, Tom Jones, Don Ho, Ethel Kennedy, Bernadette Peters, Steve Martin, Robert Goulet, Don Henley (of The Eagles), Johnny Carson and Chip Carter (that's right-the President's son.) The game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 29th at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in aid of Nevada Mentally Handicapped Special Olympics. Celebrity appetites shall be satisfied at a 6:00 p.m. dinner at the Golden Nugget Casino, the Club that is sponsoring the game.
Wedding bells will soon ring for group member Doug Strawn. He will marry Nancy Christensen May 21 at the First Christian Church of Anaheim, Calif.
Plans for another t.v. Special later this year are in the preliminary stage as this goes to press, but I will keep you in touch with further developments in a future newsletter.
Due to the large influx of questions pertaining to mom and Dad Carpenter their bio will be postponed to a later newsletter. Thank you for sending in very interesting and intelligent questions. They will help me in conducting a more interesting interview. Please let me know what you would like to know about them, and I will try to honor all reasonable requests.
Q. Did Richard ever own a 1969 Roadrunner?
A. The 1969 Roadrunner was purchased as a family car, but became Karen's when she attended the University of California at Long Beach. This was her first car.
Q. How old was Richard when he got his first car and what kind was it?
A. Richard's very first car was a 1957 Plymouth 4 door hard top Savoy, purchased for him when he was 15 in New Haven (1962.) It was left behind when the family moved to California in 1963.
Q. Are there any plans for an Australian tour?
A. Not at this time.
Q. Have any of their singles or albums sold over 2 million in the U.S.A.?
A. Singles - No. Albums - Yes. Close To You, Carpenters, and The Singles- 1969-1973 sold over 2 million copies each in the U.S.A.
Q. What is Richard's favorite Spike Jones song?
A. Holiday For Strings.
Q. Does Gayle Levant play the harp on all their albums?
A. Yes, except for 2 tracks, Heather and Sandy, Dorothy Renser was the harpist on these.
Q. What does Karen do for voice warm-up's?
A. Nothing.
Q. Approximately how many records does Richard own?
A. 3,000.
Q. Are any members of the road family into the current C.B. craze?
A. Yes - Doug Strawn and Danny Woodhams.
We wish you all a Happy and Safe Summer. Rap later. EV.


Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #54 - July, 1977
 
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 of 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 20th 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 of you keeping a list of Richard's collection, here are four more to add. There are two 1953 Studebaker Starliners, one red, one black, a 1962 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 of 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 end. 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 of 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 of Tatum, Fritz & Goldsmith wholesale clothing business, she was an excellent seamstress, and made many of the coats and 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 Catonsville 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.


Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #55 - September, 1977
 
Hi Fans,
Carpenters & staff hope you have all enjoyed beautiful summer and fun vacations. Karen & Richard have had no time off this year and because of this we have some good news for everyone and bad news for Japanese, Philippine & Australian members. First, the bad news: All Japanese, Manila and Australian concerts and the two scheduled for Hawaii have been canceled, due to a much needed rest ordered by their doctor. The good news is: The new album is scheduled to be released September 23 and there's something on it for everyone, including opera lovers. Watch for "Passage" in your music stores. Their new single was released Sept. 9th and it is a very unique space song. Look for "Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft" in your music stores now.
We have a new keepsake item which will make a perfect Christmas gift or a bright addition to your own wardrobe. We have a limited supply of some very lovely neck scarves, ideal for either fellas or gals. There's a choice of pale blue with white logo and autograph or white with navy blue logo and autograph. Supply is limited to 250 and these will be a collectors item. They are made of 100% nylon and measure l8" X l8" Price per scarf is $X.XX for U.S. members and $X.X for foreign. This includes shipping & handling.
Without further ado, here is a bio of Dad Carpenter:
Harold Bertram Carpenter was born in Wuchou China in 1908. His father, George, a brilliant electrician and top notch salesman, was a British subject. On a visit to the U.S. he met Nellie Jane Lynn at a Methodist prayer meeting in Wellsville, N.Y. where she had been born and raised. After they were married they decided to devote a few years to missionary work and were promptly sent to China, where they were transferred from city to city.
Upon completion of their mission, George returned to his work in electrical sales and they settled in Yunnan, China in a section of the city that had been set aside for foreign dignitaries and professionals. Their home there was a beautiful big house with a huge yard and garden which was well cared for by numerous Chinese servants. Formal parties within the complex were frequent and when the Carpenters entertained, the dinner table was set with fine China and silver. Frequently young Harold with younger sister Esther would sneak downstairs where they could observe the festivities without being seen.
It was the era of the Boxer Rebellion and street fights and killings were frequent. No one walked the streets. All foreigners stayed within the complex and servants were sent out to do the shopping. Supplies of all kinds were limited. Most were ordered from Montgomery Ward, including huge supplies of food. The only available fresh fruit was persimmons. A lovely persimmon tree grew right outside Harold's bedroom window and he thoroughly enjoyed the succulent fruit it bore. Apples and oranges were seen only in the minds of Harold and Esther as their mother described the beauty and taste of these fruits so abundant in the U.S. Meals consisted of rice, vegetables and a little meat. Harold preferred eating in the kitchen with the servants where they prepared real Chinese dishes for themselves, using ginger-root as a basic spice. He loved to scoop out the pieces of ginger-root and eat them, using chopsticks as adeptly as the Chinese servants. The family dressed well in clothes that also had to be imported. Harold's excellent taste in clothes today probably stems from the lovely Eaton suits he wore as a youngster.
Transportation was a Chair on poles, carried on the shoulders of four servants. Each family owned their own chair but public taxi service was via Rickshaw. Toys and games were rare items. Harold's favorite activity was shooting the noisy, bothersome crows that were so plentiful in their garden. His father, an excellent hunter, provided him with a .22 and taught him how to use it correctly; and once each year they would travel to West Mountain to hunt pheasant. Though he and Esther each had their own pony, their rides were limited to roads within the compound. Though a tutor was hired for the youngsters' education, it was a hit and miss affair and they did not receive a formal education until they were placed in schools in England. Harold was eight when plans were made for their trip to England to place them in schools. It was a long, difficult, dangerous journey that had to be made by train because World War I was in progress. They traveled across Siberia and because the Russian Revolution was also going on, the train was Frequently stopped and searched by Russian troops. At each stop the children hid under the tables of the dining car. In Petrovgrad they left the train and were placed in a hotel for a few days where they existed on black bread and water, the only food available to them. Bombings were frequent and the hotel next to theirs was demolished during a bombing. Boarding another train they entered the arctic circle in Finland and traveled to Sweden and then Norway where they were finally put aboard a ship at Bergen, where big ships embarked for England. They skirted the Shetland Island in the North Sea the week that German U-boats sank more passenger ships than any other week of the entire war. At the end of this nightmare voyage they disembarked at Liverpool, then continued on to Margate where Harold and Esther were placed in boarding schools. His mother with younger brother, Richard returned to China where eventually, two more younger sisters would be born. At war's end his mother and dad returned to England and bought a house in Hendon where Harold continued his education by attending Hendon Hall. His father went back to his electrical sales business in China. His mom remained in England until it was near time for her baby to be born, then again joined his father in China. Eventually they disposed of all their possessions in China and they both returned to England where they settled in Golder's Green, where his dad invented a burglar alarm. When business dropped off, his mother with the five children sailed to the U.S. to live with her mother. Harold was 14 and though his education in England was equivalent to a high school education in the U.S., he attended the Wellsville, N.Y. high school for two years. Due to his mother's illness, he left school at 16 to go to work. She had contracted a lung ailment in Singapore and eventually lost the use of one lung.
An uncle in Middletown, Ohio was night superintendent of a paper-box industry and he put Harold to work there, feeding the press, and welcomed him into his home to live. When his uncle took a better job in Indianapolis, Harold moved along with them and again worked with his uncle on a press. His mother, brother and sisters came to Indianapolis for a brief stay then returned to England to be with Harold's father. Harold remained in Indianapolis where he became interested in motorcycles and joined a cycle club. Once again he moved with his aunt and uncle to Maryland to accept still better jobs. He and a friend rode their bikes to Catonsville where he met Agnes, and after a 4 year courtship, they were married. Since then, his life parallels Agnes's which you read about in Newsletter #54.
Harold has enjoyed good health all his life. His only surgery was an ear operation in 1960 which left him slightly hard of hearing in his right ear. Injuries consisted of 3 nasty motorcycle flops in Indiana and a more serious one to his arm when it was accidentally caught under the rollers of a printing press he was working on at the time. He and Mom Carpenter have the same interests in music and T.V. shows but differ in favorite colors. His is red. When asked what his favorite food is, his answer was "The best way to answer that is to ask me what I don't like". The question was asked - "which foods don't you like?" His answer - "Stewed tomatoes. That is all - just stewed tomatoes."
The amazing talent that K & R possess comes partly, perhaps from grandmother Nellie and grandfather George. Both were fine pianists and often played piano for their guests at the formal dinner parties they held when they lived in China. Grandmother Nellie had a fine voice and would also render for her guests, beautiful songs. Harold was given piano lessons for a while (against his will) but was not interested in learning to play the piano and hated practicing. He did enjoy his parents renditions, however, and he also loved listening to lovely classical and semi-classical music from records played on the beautiful Victorola they had in China. His favorite relaxation today is to relax on an easy chair in Richard's huge music room and surround himself with fine music from records played on the turn-table of the fantastic stereo sound system in that room.
Though Dad Carpenter retired from the Container Corp. in 1970, he surely has not retired. He is busier now than at any time of his life. He and Mom are Collection Control Administrators of Richard's car collection and are responsible for bringing all cars purchased to mint condition. This means numerous trips from one car specialist to another and making numberless calls and trips to obtain obsolete parts. Dad also reads numerous ads in search of cars that Richard wishes to add to his collection, and this, at times, takes him and Mom to other states to check out possible purchases. He and Mom have also been Richard's representatives in several car shows and parades.
To your list of Richard's cars, add a 58 Edsel Citation and a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air. This brings his collection to 57.
Rap later. Ev.


Carpenters Fan Club Newsletter #56 - November, 1977
 
Hi Fans!
Karen and Richard hope that each of you had a happy Halloween. Goblins, witches, ghosts, scarecrows, creatures of all sizes, shapes and colors rang the Carpenters door-bell requesting Halloween treats. By 9:00 p.m. they had dropped, one by one, a Hershey bar into 960 shopping bags, pillow cases, super market bags, tablecloths, aprons and various other containers held forth by these trick-or-treaters. They came in groups of 20s and 30s, arriving on foot and by car. The street was lined bumper to bumper with cars filled with youngsters from other neighborhoods. It was late into the night when the door-bell finally stopped ringing, by which time Mom Carpenter was exhausted.
Though we are enjoying lovely warm fall weather, there are many signs of Christmas in the stores. Those of you who intend to give loved ones some of the Carpenters Keepsakes items, be sure to get your orders in immediately so they can be tilled in time for Christmas. A Postal Money Order rather than a personal check, will help to expedite the order more readily. Don't forget our new item-the lovely scarves with both signatures and Carpenters logo in one corner.
We (Carpenters staff) were given a sneak preview of the Carpenters Christmas TV Special. What a show! If you enjoyed their 1976 TV Special, this one is a triple treat. All the Christmas songs were chosen and arranged by Richard, and he made a terrific selection. The sets and costumes are beautiful, the skits are funny, and Richard's rendition of O Holy Night is truly inspirational. If you ever wondered what Karen's condominium looks like, watch the Christmas party scene closely. The sets for that scene were designed to look like her own living quarters. The pictures she shows and describes, are actual pictures pulled from their family photograph books. You'll see a young Richard holding a Teddy Bear, and a younger Karen (she was 3) holding, of all things, a toy machine gun, and yes, it was hers!
That's what she had asked Santa to bring her for Christmas. You'll hear her sing White Christmas, looking very mature and sophisticated, wearing a floor-length ermine coat; and another scene depicts her as a 14 year old adorable tom-boy dressed in overalls, singing and skipping with Kristy McNichol. Dog lovers will love the park scene as Fran performs a Kukla and Ollie puppet show, and their audience consists of just one large dog who does nothing more than occupy one of the audience chairs to watch the show.(Oh, yes, you'll see Ollie fall in love with Karen, and go completely bananas when she gives him a little kiss.) The Bowling Alley scene is not a set, it's a for real one (The Jefferson Bowl in Culver City) which was rented for the day to film the scene. Richard is a lone customer who converses with Harvey Korman (a waiter) which leads to a duet by the two of them, and you'll even see Richard (and Harvey) do a little dance - and that wasn't easy on the slippery alley floor! Harvey does a hilarious Christmas Carol skit, playing all the parts himself, and changing costumes as he runs out one door, around the back of the set to enter another door across the stage as a different character. You'll feel right at home during Karen's Christmas party, and laugh as Karen, Richard, Kristy, Harvey, Kukla and Ollie each sing their New Year's Resolution. The long Beach State Choir, led by Frank Pooler the school music director, enhances the program with beautiful Christmas carols.
Good news for most foreign members. A terrific short length promotion film was made to promote Karen and Richard's new single Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft. It will be shown in theaters world-wide (except the United States.) Karen, in a lovely green satin jump suit, sings the entire song to Richard's accompaniment. If, like me, you enjoy watching his hands as he plays, you'll be pleased with the close-up shots of his hands on the keyboard. Background setting is, of course, outer space with a galaxy of stars, planets and space-ships. The disc-jockey in the radio station at the opening of the film, is group member Tony Peluso (as on Passage) who mimicks the 5O's DJs so well. Tony is also featured as a d.j. on previous Carpenters albums.
Speaking of albums, we hope you have purchased your copy of Passage. REMIMDER: Buy one for Aunt Jane, Uncle Joe, Cousin Pat and all those hard to please relatives and friends. You may also like to buy them a copy of Karen and Richard's new Christmas single The Christmas Song which is included in the TV Special. The flip side is everyone's favorite Merry Christmas Darling, and should be in all music stores by the time you receive this letter.
The tentative date for the Special to be aired is December 9th, but please be sure to check your TV Guide for confirmation as alterations frequently occur.
For car buffs keeping a list of Richard's cars, here are two more to add; a 1964 Imperial Crown Coupe, and a 70 Dodge Challenger. All care in his collection will eventually be restored to their original condition, so there are always five or six cars out for repairs and restoration. Cars driven most by Richard are his 1976 Jaguar, 1971 and 1972 Lincoln's, 1977 Corvette and 1977 Transam. Karen remains very happy with her 1972 Mercedes, and has no desire to trade it, sell it or even acquire a second car for herself.
Karen and Richard were recent guests of (the real) Don Steel on LA's new radio station 1OQ who frequently play the long version of Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft. Later this week they will be hosted by Wink Martindale on KMPC another great Los Angles radio station. Wink will review Passage.
If you read in a recent movie magazine that Karen and Richard were considering doing a Disney movie, sorry to say, the information is incorrect. They have no plans to do a movie in the near future. Richard was asked to write the music for the recently released Disney film The Rescuers, but other commitments at that time resulted in a reluctant negative answer.
Carpenters 1978 itinerary holds no promise for a tour this year. Their only appearances tentatively scheduled will be at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, and Harrahs, Lake Tahoe. The first MGM appearance will be during the Christmas Holidays from December 24 through January 4. Mom and Dad will join them in Las Vegas, so they will enjoy a family Christmas in a different setting. There is TV taping scheduled for March, but no details concerning guest stars etc. are available at this time.
The lovely gifts and greetings cards you sent for Richard's recent birthday were received with gratitude as he sincerely appreciates your thoughtfulness. Both Karen and Richard and Mom and Dad express their thanks for remembering them while you were on vacation.
Their post-card book is getting quite fat with lovely views from throughout the world. Richard, Karen, Mom, Dad, The Group and Roadies, Rosina and Patty wish each one of you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with Happiness, Good Health and Prosperity, and, of course, I do, too. There is a little room for a short question and answer section, so here goes:
Q. Have Karen and Richard ever met Elvis Presley?
A. Yes, in fact one of Karen's most treasured gifts, is the autographed stuffed dog Elvis gave her. It is encased in a Lucite 'dog house' complete with imitation grass! Elvis also gave Karen a personally inscribed copy of his karate black belt certificate which is placed on a perma plaque.
Q. What is the flip side of Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft?
A. A re-cut version of Can't Smile Without You.
Q. What are the definitions of the following; ASCAP, RIAA, BMI and BPI (UK) ?
A. ASCAP: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. RIAA: Recording Industry Association of America. BMI: Broadcast Music Incorporated. BPI (UK): Broadcaster. Photographic Industry (United Kingdom).
Q. Can we expect another track from Passage to be released as a single in the near future?
A. Karen and Richard are considering releasing Sweet, Sweet Smile, but it would not be until after Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft disappears from the charts.
Q. What songs were on the tape conceived in Joe Osborne's garage?
A. Your Wonderful Parade, Invocation and All I Can Do.
Rap next year! EV.