Fred Penner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fred Penner CM OM
Born	Frederick Ralph Cornelius Penner (1946-11-06) November 6, 1946 (age 78) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Alma mater	University of Winnipeg
Occupation	Singer guitarist
Known for	Fred Penner's Place (1985–1997)
Spouse(s)	Odette Heyn ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 2011)​ Rae Ellen Bodie ​ (m. 2016)​

Fred Penner is a famous Canadian singer and musician. He is best known for his fun songs for children. You might know 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 for a few years.

Life and Career: Fred Penner's Journey

Early Life: How Fred Penner Started

Fred Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, 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 grade school. He also sang in school choirs and plays.

Fred learned early on how music could help people. His sister, Susan, had Down syndrome. He saw how music brought her 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 disabilities. He used music to help them feel better and have fun.

Music and TV: Fred Penner's Big Break

By 1972, Fred Penner was a full-time musician. He played folk music songs in Winnipeg. In the mid-1970s, he was in a folk music group called Kornstock. Other members, like Al Simmons and Bob King, also became famous children's entertainers.

In 1977, Fred met Odette Heyn, who would become his wife. They started a children's dance company together. Soon after, Fred got an offer to record an album. This album was called The Cat Came Back. It became a huge success! This album helped him become one of Canada's top children's entertainers. Many people see Fred Penner 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 his famous song, "The Cat Came Back". The very next year, he got his own show, Fred Penner's Place.

The show became very popular. It ran on CBC in Canada for 12 years. It was also shown on Nickelodeon in the U.S. The show was known for Fred's songs, special guests, and fun puppets like Word Bird. Everyone remembers the opening where Fred would crawl through a hollow log! Fred Penner's Place won awards, including a Juno Award and a Gemini Award. Fred recorded over 900 episodes of the show! Even after the show ended, he still performs and records music regularly.

Awards and Honors: Fred Penner's Achievements

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 is a very high honor in Canada. He received it 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 an Honorary Doctorate degree. This was to recognize his lifelong work. He has always supported children and helped make sure everyone feels included.

Personal Life: Fred Penner Today

As of 2022, Fred Penner lives in Courtenay, British Columbia. He has four children from his first marriage. In 2016, he married Rae Ellen Bodie. His daughter, Hayley Gene Penner, is also a songwriter.

Fred Penner cares a lot about helping others. He has supported many humanitarian causes. These include working with UNESCO, UNICEF, and World Vision. He also supports the National Conference on Down Syndrome.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Fred Penner performing in 2011

• The Cat Came Back (1979)
• The Polka Dot Pony (1981) (reissued as Poco)
• Special Delivery (1983) (reissued 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)