I heard of Fred's passing late this morning from Juel Ulven, who'd gotten a call from Emily Friedman. I'm still in shock, Fred was one of my heroes, and encouraged me when I first started out twenty-plus years ago. He was not just a singer but a consummate entertainer, who always performed to and not "at" his audiences. I remember one of his favorite compliments about many of those who'd headline at Holstein's: as he'd finish his opening set, he would mention the headliner as someone who'd "roll your socks up and down." Fred, you sure rolled mine many times.