Fred Penner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fred Penner
CM OM
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| Born |
Frederick Ralph Cornelius Penner
November 6, 1946 |
| Alma mater | University of Winnipeg |
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| Known for | Fred Penner's Place (1985–1997) |
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Frederick Ralph Cornelius Penner (born November 6, 1946) is a famous Canadian children's entertainer and musician. He is well-known for his popular song "The Cat Came Back". Many people also remember him from his TV show, Fred Penner's Place. This show was on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1997. It also aired in the United States on Nickelodeon from 1989 to 1992.
Contents
Fred Penner's Life and Career
Early Life and Music
Fred Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on November 6, 1946. He started making up songs when he was only four years old. He taught himself to play the guitar when he was in elementary school. He also sang in school choirs and performed in school plays.
Fred learned early on how music could help people. His sister, Susan, had Down syndrome. Through his experiences with her, he saw how music could bring comfort and joy.
After high school, Fred went to the University of Winnipeg. He studied economics and psychology. Later, he worked with children who had mental or physical disabilities. He used music to help them feel better and have fun.
Becoming a Professional Musician
By 1972, Fred Penner became a full-time musician. He performed folk music songs in Winnipeg. In the mid-1970s, he was part of several music groups. One of the most famous was Kornstock. In this group, he played with Al Simmons and Bob King. They also became well-known children's entertainers.
In 1977, Fred met Odette Graziella Heyn. She was a choreographer and later became his first wife. They started a children's dance theatre company called Sundance.
The Cat Came Back and TV Show
Fred Penner got an offer to record an album. This album was called The Cat Came Back. It became very popular and started his career as a children's entertainer. He is seen as a pioneer in children's music in Canada.
In 1984, Fred appeared on a children's TV show called The Elephant Show. He sang "The Cat Came Back" on the show. The next year, he got his own show, Fred Penner's Place.
Fred Penner's Place became a big hit. It aired on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1997. It was also shown on Nickelodeon in the United States from 1989 to 1992. The show was famous for Fred's songs, special guests, and puppets like Word Bird. The opening of the show, where Fred enters through a hollow log, is very memorable.
The show won many awards and nominations. This included a Juno Award in 1989 and a Gemini Award in 1994. Fred recorded over 900 episodes of Fred Penner's Place. Even after the show ended, Fred continues to perform and record music regularly.
Awards and Honors
Fred Penner has won the Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year four times. He won in 1989, 2003, 2015, and 2018.
In 1991, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This honor was given to him for "using music and song to entertain and educate his young audience." In 2011, he also became a Member of the Order of Manitoba.
In 2023, the University of Alberta gave Fred Penner an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. This was to recognize his work in supporting inclusivity and advocating for children throughout his life.
Fred Penner's Personal Life
As of 2022, Fred Penner lives in Courtenay, British Columbia, with his second wife. Before that, he divided his time between Winnipeg and Toronto. He has four children from his first marriage to Odette Heyn. He married Rae Ellen Bodie, a theatre director, in 2016. His daughter, Hayley Gene Penner, is a songwriter.
Fred Penner has also supported many humanitarian causes. He has worked with organizations like UNESCO, UNICEF, World Vision, and the National Conference on Down Syndrome.
Fred Penner's Film and TV Appearances
Movies
Fred Penner has appeared in several films.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Reunion | Short film | |
| 1993 | What a Day! | Himself | Short film Director Writer |
| 2014 | Fred Heads | Documentary | |
| Lennon or McCartney | |||
| 2016 | Lovesick | ||
| 2017 | Northern Folk | Himself | Documentary Composer |
Television Shows
Fred Penner has also been in many television shows.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Sharon, Lois, & Bram's Elephant Show | Himself | Season 1, episode 10: "Lifestyles" |
| 1985-1997 | Fred Penner's Place | Composer Writer |
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| 1992 | Mr. Dressup | Episode: 25th Anniversary cameo | |
| 1994 | The Biggest Little Ticket | Television film | |
| 1998 | The Adventures of Shirley Holmes | Bill Marshall | Season 2, episode 6: "The Case of the Exploding Puppet" |
| 2001 | It's A Living - S13, Ep 12 | Himself/Captain Hook | Sword fights actor Derek Aasland in a flying machine. |
| 2003-2007 | Tipi Tales | Composer | Composer of the theme song |
| 2015 | The Plateaus | Fred Penners | Appeared in three episodes |
| Sunnyside | Barber | Season 1, episode 12: "Sunnyside Tours" | |
| 2019 | Cavendish | Himself (poster, wax statue) | Season 1; multiple episodes |
| 2019 - | Miss Persona | Grampy | Multiple episodes |
Fred Penner's Music Albums
Fred Penner has released many music albums for children:
- The Cat Came Back (1979)
- The Polka Dot Pony (1981) (also known as Poco)
- Special Delivery (1983) (also known as Ebeneezer Sneezer)
- A House for Me (1985)
- Fred Penner's Place (1988)
- Collections (1989)
- The Season (1990)
- Happy Feet (1992)
- What A Day! (1994)
- Moonlight Express (1996)
- Sing With Fred (2003)
- Where In The World (2014)
- Hear the Music (2017)
