Fred Penner reflects on four decades of entertaining children
Posted May 14, 2018 03:52:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
An icon of children's music is in the capital, headlining the Ottawa Children's Festival.
Fred Penner may be best-known for his TV show, Fred Penner's Place, which aired from 1985 to 1997. His career was launched into the homes and lives of countless Canadian children with The Cat Came Back, released on his 1979 album.
“I was in a comedy band for four years, in the mid-70's, then I started doing acting and musical comedy,” said Penner. “Then, things evolved into working with kids and doing the first record.”
Penner says the best thing about his career has been the connection with the audience — both during and after the show.
“It's those connections after a performance,” Penner told Ottawa Today with Mark Sutcliffe on 1310 NEWS. “I always go out into the audience, or out into the foyer or front of house and greet the audience and sign autographs and hear the stories.”
Penner is one of the headliners at this year's Ottawa Children's Festival, which wraps up Tuesday.
Listen to the full conversation with Fred Penner:
