Fred Daniel was born March 29, 1925, and began his career as a gospel singer on the steps of the Porterville Methodist Church. After 2 years in the US Navy during World War II, he along with childhood friend, Wallace "Happy" Edwards, formed a gospel quartet called "The Happy Four". Fred sang there for 3 years, before joining the Sunshine Boys. During his years there, he appeared with the group in the Charles Starrett B-Western, Prairie Roundup. The Sunshine Boys not only pioneered in recording and in movies, but they also pioneered in radio, performing on WSB Barn Dance in Atlanta and WWVA Wheeling Jamboree in the late 40s and early 50s.
Although he spent more of his singing career with the Sunshine Boys, Fred will always be remembered and loved for his energy and enthusiasm singing tenor for 12 years with the Blue Ridge Quartet. He joined the group in 1965, reuniting with his friend and former Sunshine Boy member, Burl Strevel. Didn't we all just want to jump with him when he was singing "Somebody Touched Me" or "I Wanna Go There?" After retiring from full-time singing in 1977, Fred put his electric personality to use in the insurance industry, working as district, regional and divisional sales manager for Mutual of Omaha. Still, he eagerly looked forward to reunion shows. He said his greatest joy was when he was in front of people singing - "That's when I felt I was at my best." Fred passed away November 6, 2007, just 2 weeks after the passing of Hilda Daniel, his wife of over 64 years, and was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall Of Fame on October 9, 2008.
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