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THE BRANDON SUN • WINTER FAIR • MARCH 2024
MAKING CONNECTIONS An interview with Fred Penner
Canadian children’s entertainer Fred Penner will be taking part in this year’s 2024 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. (Submitted)
BY MICHELE MCDOUGALL
“We would listen to records togeth- er, sing and just make sounds. Music seemed to get right inside of her, and so as I started moving into my mu- sical career, I always remembered that,” Penner said. Being an actor put him on stage before singing ever did on Winnipeg’s Rainbow Stage, and the Manitoba Theatre Centre. “Acting was a big part of my learn- ing process, and I can be sponta- neous with the energy from the audi- ence. So, if something happens that could potentially throw things off, I know how to turn that into a posi- tive,” Penner said.
Place was on the air for 12 years, from 1985 to 1997. And he is a four-time Juno winner for Children’s Album of the Year. And there’s no question that kids are his favourite audience, he said, “Making music for children has the potential of making a difference in their lives.” The importance of connecting with children through music came to Pen- ner when he was about 10 years old, growing up in Winnipeg. His young- est sister Susie had Down syndrome, which causes delays in mental and physical development. Susie was non-verbal, and music was one of the ways they bonded, said Penner.
Canadian children’s entertainer Fred Penner says he is already think- ing about what he’ll pack for his trip to Brandon and his performances at this year’s Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. “I’ve got my guitar and a couple of things that I plug in to make to make the sound better. But it’s me, my voice, my guitar, and my energy, and that’s it. It’s really as simple and posi- tive as I can possibly make it,” Penner said during a phone interview from his home on Vancouver Island. Penner’s name has become syn- onymous with entertaining kids. His television show called Fred Penner’s
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