In Memory of Fred Travalena
October 6, 1942 - June 28, 2009

Stephen Martin - Godspeed Fred, Godspeed.
Thank you for all that you gave us, the jokes, the laughs, yourself. To all of Fred\'s Family and friends: We lost a fantastic performer/entertainer, you lost someone dear and close. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. God Bless. Stephen

Anita - Just a note...
I would like to say that each life has a place. Fred was not a well known name to alot of people, but for me, a child of TV, I remember him. I just watched the clip of him with Sammy Davis. What is clear is that he loved his work and I could see his heart in it. In this time when we lost so many icons, Fred will be missed as well. God Bless Fred and his family.

Thomas A. Coss
Dear Fred- Thank you for all you\'ve given us and for thinking beyond your personal needs. You\'re such a kind and carying gentlemen whom I will sincerely miss. Blessings to you always. Tom

Stacey Crawford - Grew up with Fred
Thank you for sharing your talents with us and making us laugh. I\'ll miss you.

George lyons - Memories Of You
Deepest condolences to Fred\'s Family at this sad time. I will always remember what a naturally funny man Fred was and how GOOD his impersonations were- he never seemed to get the national recognition that befitted his abilities but those that knew him realized that his talent was golden. R.I.P., Fred

Steve Chihota - Condolences
Fred buddy,I know how much you loved your dad. My Condolences to you and your Family.

Dave S. - An Early Influence
What a loss. I remember Fred on the old Gene Rayburn Match Game Show. I was just a kid but his voices and faces made me laugh so hard my mother used to come rushing into the room wondering what was wrong with me. That was more than thirty years ago and I still love his line about no one recognizing him as Fred. Everyone always thought he was Paul McCartney or Tug McGraw when they saw him on the street. Im a trial lawyer now and still think of his voices and faces when I have to make a jury smile or laugh. My thoughts are with his family.

Michele Bowen - Big Deal in the 70's
I remember being a child of the 70's & growing up with Fred on my tV. He was funny without being dirty or crass.
He was a very talented man. Best wishes to his family. Cancer sucks!!!

Brad Zinn - Fred literally changed my life
I am grief stricken today..I met Fred in Juneau Alaska in 1997 and spent about five hours with him. He was all alone in a hotel lobby waiting to board a cruise ship for one of his many headline appearances. When I introduced myself to him as a fellow performer, he immediately treated me like we had been friends for years. There was nothing pretentious about him. We spoke and laughed as he shared his memories of years in the business at the top of his profession. He was a genuine gentleman and one of the truly nice people in this world. I am taking the liberty of reprinting an excerpt from an article that explains better how Fred changed my life. During our conversation he revealed to me his meeting with George Burns (who passed in March of 1996) and how it affected him. What Fred did no know was how much that story would affect me. I owe Fred and George more than they will ever know.

Here's the excerpt;

"Being a devout student of show business, Brad sensed that the great entertainers stood for something - that they represented the sublime. Zinn, the ever-passionate disciple, chose to struggle with this concept and accept its' challenge. So he thrust himself backward toward the first talent that he had ever displayed. The impressions - his uncanny ability to sound and behave like celebrities of the past. Perhaps he merely underrated this particular ability in himself. It just needed to get jolted out of him.

"Being a devout student of show business, Brad sensed that the great entertainers stood for something - that they represented the sublime. Zinn, the ever-passionate disciple, chose to struggle with this concept and accept its' challenge. So he thrust himself backward toward the first talent that he had ever displayed. The impressions - his uncanny ability to sound and behave like celebrities of the past. Perhaps he merely underrated this particular ability in himself. It just needed to get jolted out of him.

With the ship docked, Lennon and Zinn crossed paths with Travalena in a hotel lounge in Juneau. For several hours the three exchanged impressions, voices and the joking patter of celebrities and public figures. From that evening on it was abundantly clear to Zinn what he was missing. Fortunately, it was something that he already had. "Travalena related a story about meeting George Burns backstage," Zinn explained. "George asked, 'Fred, what do you represent when you walk out on stage? I know exactly what I represent to my audience and that's what I am when I walk out on stage." It was a profundity that affected Zinn the way it had affected Travalena years earlier. "It was as much an epiphany for Travalena as it was for me in just hearing him relate the story," Zinn said. "In a way, although I'm doing a tribute to George Burns, Fred has probably done more for me than he'd even realize."

The Great Comedians is the result of that chance meeting in Alaska. From those precious moments with Travalena grew Zinn's elusive thread. Some might call it the message. But what it really gave him was a purpose for performing for the first time in a quarter century as a professional. He now realized that he could tell his own unique show business story, and could do so utilizing the likes of entertainers past that were the direct inspiration for him in the first place!"

God bless you Fred, and restore you to perfect health in Heaven. I will miss you my friend, and I will never forget what you have done for me. The world was a happier, funnier place for you having been here.

Don Elliot - The LA Themesong
Some years ago, I recall Fred singing an official ficial themesong dedicated to the City of LA, sung as "Frank Sinatra". I have searched for a copy of it... can anyone assist? donelliot@gmail.com

Donna Sheraden - Thanks for the laughs!
Hello. I would like to thank you for sharing Fred and his amazing talents. I am so sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Donna Sheraden