Frederick Ralph Cornelius Penner, CM OM (born November 6, 1946) is a Canadian children's music performer who gives appearances throughout North America. His television show, Fred Penner's Place, aired for 30 Minutes on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1997. It was co-produced by Nickelodeon in 1989 and 1990.Penner was born on November 6, 1946 to Lydia Agathe Penner (née Winters, 1913-2005) and Edward W. Penner (d. 1971). Penner had four siblings: one older sister Carol, one older brother Wesley, one younger brother Terry, and one younger sister Susan (d. 1970).Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. At the early age of four, Penner began making up songs while travelling on the bus with his mother. He taught himself how to play the guitar when he was in grade school, and performed in school choirs and pageants. Through his experience with his sister Susan's Down Syndrome, he recognized the therapeutic value of music.Penner received his high school diploma at Kelvin High School, where he took lead roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. After graduating from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and psychology, he spent time working with mentally and physically challenged children, using music to comfort and entertain. In 1977, he met choreographer and wife-to-be Odette Heyn, with whom he started a children's dance theatre company. Penner accepted an offer to do a recording, which resulted in the album The Cat Came Back, which launched his career and established him as one of Canada's leading children's entertainers.In 1984, he appeared on the children's television show, The Elephant Show, singing "The Cat Came Back". In 1991, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada for "using music and song to entertain and educate his young audience". In 2011, he was made a Member of the Order of Manitoba.
Damien Penner, Kendra Penner, Hayley Penner, Danica Penner, Ghost Riders in the Sky, The Cat Came Back, Sandwiches
Parents
Lydia Agathe Penner, Edward W. Penner, Ghost Riders in the Sky, The Cat Came Back, Sandwiches
Siblings
Wesley Penner, Carol Penner, Susan Penner, Terry Penner, Ghost Riders in the Sky, The Cat Came Back, Sandwiches
Awards
Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year
Nominations
Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series
Star Sign
Scorpio
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Quote
1
The combination of people who are at a performance is always new. You'll never get exactly the same mix, at the same time of day, or or with the same energy. So you are working with a brand-new palette every time. The audience will always expect certain things and certain songs, of which I never tire. The cat will always come back. That's the joy of live theatre.
2
I think in this day and age, when technology has taken over so much of our entertainment value, that getting together to come to a live performance is becoming more unique than it used to be. In the 1980s, we would go into a community and do three, four, five shows in a couple of days in 2000-seat theaters. Everybody was really excited about coming to that. But the whole thing just sort of changed perspective. Technology didn't do us any good service on that.
3
You're only as good as your last gig. There's no comparison to anything: every show has its own energy, its own spirit, its own connectivity. And, from an age point-of-view, I can be in an audience of seniors and be as vibrant and as connected as with a school of two-thousand children.
4
The folk singers were protesting against the Establishment, against the Man, against the War. As a collective group you made your voices heard. Nowadays, it's not the same. We've lost that purpose.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lovesick
2016/I
Mr. Laffin
Sunnyside
2015
TV Series
Barber
The Plateaus
2015
TV Series
Fred Penners
The Adventures of Shirley Holmes
1998
TV Series
Bill Marshall
Big Sky: High River Concert
1995
Performer
What a Day!
1993
Video short
Fred Penner
Fred Penner's Place
1987
TV Series
Fred
Reunion
1984
Short
Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show
1984
TV Series
Fed Penner
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Northern Folk
2016
Documentary completed
Tipi Tales
2002
TV Series
Fred Penner's Place
1987
TV Series
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
What a Day!
1993
Video short script
Fred Penner's Place
1987
TV Series
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
What a Day!
1993
Video short performer: "Happy Feet", "Proud" / writer: "Proud"
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
What a Day!
1993
Video short co-director
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Northern Folk
2016
Documentary completed
Himself
Retro 30
2015
TV Series
Himself
Lennon or McCartney
2014
Documentary short
Himself
Fred Heads
2014
Documentary short
Himself
The Hour
2012
TV Series
Himself
Life and Times
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Manitoba Flood Relief Concert
1997
TV Special
Himself
Big Sky
1997/II
TV Mini-Series
Fred
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1994
Gemini
Gemini Awards
Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series