Hi Fans!

Richard and Karen wish all of you a Great BIG Happy New Year. They also send their THANKS for the groovy cards and gifts they received from so many fans. They are amazed at the numerous artists in their club and appreciate them. Show cases are being built in their new recreation room to display you talents.

Good weather accompanied the November tour as far as Rochester, New York where they were greeted by snow and freezing temperatures but warm and friendly fans. Though extreme change of weather between Miami and Rochester brought on colds and sore throats they completed the tour, playing all engagements.

In Miami, their sound man became quiet ill so Sugar Bear, their equipment manager had to drive the truckload of equipment from Miami to Rochester. Leaving Miami, the truck broke down and a lengthy repair job delayed him for five hours. Consequently, Carpenters did not appear on the Rochester stage until ten o'clock. They do appreciate the patience of their Rochester fans who waited for their appearance.

Richard and Karen, unaware of Sugar Bear's predicament had flown to Toronto for dinner at the Hungarian Village, their favorite eating place in that part of the country. They say the food is truly fantastic and they especially enjoy Flaming Atilla. This is a platter of deliciously seasoned and perfectly cooked meats, including veal, pork, filet, chicken and duck which is served elegantly aflame. Karen and Richard say for a first class meal the Hungaria Village is a must.

In Carbondale, Illinois they drove to the football field at half time to enjoy the Carpenter medley played by the University band. In Richmond, Kentucky they had dinner with the Harlem GlobeTrotters. Karen says they're a gas. After the Morgantown gig they were flabbergasted when the allegheny plane unloaded their valuable instruments and sound system in the middle of the air field and took off!

They spent three days in Chattanooga enjoying a day off in one of the fine bowling alleys there. They love to bowl so they organized a tournament among the group and Karen and Richard had their own bowling balls flown in from Downey.

A freak error, in Jacksonville, had the local radio station advertising their concert at the wrong hall. They wondered why ticket sales were so poor, than last minute announcements corrected the error and by concert time the house was packed. The "way out" gig they enjoyed playing in mobile got off to a bad start in the dressing rooms when they discovered none of the showers worked. But once on stage they responded to the warmth and friendliness of the fans and truly enjoyed their work.

The Hartford Airport was closed due to a snow storm so the lear was brought down in New Haven, just a half hours drive from where they were born.

The tour ended in Westbury where five shows were sold out in spite of the rain. Then they stopped over in Baltimore to visit relatives and Mom and Dad flew East to join them.

The Award Special hosted by Ed Sullivan was taped December 11 & 17. It was not revealed until too late for last month's newsletter that it would not be live. The Carol Burnett Show which they will tape the first week of January -- both shows will be aired sometime in January, so watch your newspaper and TV Guide.

Their new single Hurting Each Other was released December 17 and copies are in the store now.

Plans are in the making for a Carpenter TV Special, but no date has been set for the taping.

The Australian tour has been postponed from February until June to give Karen and Richard time to complete their new album. Business meetings and commitments kept them from completing it during December as they had planned. They are still undecided on a name for it but have a couple in mind which they keep tossing around.

January they are scheduled for eight engagements only:

14th PROVO, Utah, Brigham Young University, George Smith Fieldhouse

15th LOGAN, Utah, Utah State University, Assembly Center

18th ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Civic Auditorium

19th EL PASO, Texas, County Coliseum

20th TUCSON, Arizona, Convention Center

21st TEMPE, Arizona, Arizona State University, Grady Gammage Auditorium

22nd ANAHEIM, California, Convention Center

23rd SAN DIEGO, California, Convention Hall

Karen and Richard send their love

So long for now - -EV

Last changed: Sat May 28 23:47:33 EDT 2005