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Fredrick Ralph Cornelius (Fred) Penner
Fred Penner is arguably one of the most popular and familiar singers and songwriters of popular children’s songs. He began his career in Winnipeg, Manitoba, his place of birth. Penner, along with Raffi, Sharon, Lois, and Bram are recognized as pioneers of children’s music.

History: 

Fredrick Ralph Cornelius (Fred) Penner was born on November 6 1946 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Son of Edward William Penner and Lydia (Winter) Penner, Fred and his 5 siblings grew up around a variety of musical genres. In an interview, with Contemporary Musicians (CM), he told them that “we grew up listening to the classical music that was my father's desire, and the rock and swing tunes from the 1950s that my older sister and brother listened to." 	It was during grade school that Penner learned to play guitar, and would often play for his younger sister Suzie, who was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome. He would later finish his academic career with a BA in economics and Psychology. After graduating from university Fred began to work with mentally and physically challenged children, performing musical entertainment for them as a means of therapy. 		In the 1960’s, struggling with what he wanted to do in life, Penner began to perform popular folk songs by Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, and Neil Young in coffeehouses. This became a full time occupation, which prompted him to include other popular folk songs and began touring clubs with the comedy group Kornstalk. In 1977, Penner met a choreographer by the name of Odette Heyn. Together the two of them started a children’s dance theatre company. On August 23, 1981, Fred and Odette married and later had 4 children. In 1984 Penner’s popularity would begin to rise, as the CBC introduced the television show ‘Fred Penner’s place’, which was as daily show in which he told stories and performed now popular children’s songs. In 1989 ‘Fred Penner’s Place’ was introduced in the USA. Since this time, Penner has turned many of his pieces into storybooks, such as: The Bump, Ebeneezer Sneezer, and Rollerskating, just to mention a few. In addition to his popularity, Penner has won numerous awards, including: Juno awards for ‘Fred Penner’s Place’, and for the best children’s album; four Parents Choice Awards, and many others.

Colleges: 

Very little is noted about who Fred Penner has worked with throughout his career; however, as noted earlier, he did tour with the comedy group Kornstalk. One key member of this group was Al Simmons, another popular singer of children’s songs. Penner would often invite Al as a guest on his show ‘Fred Penner’s Place’.

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