Monday, August 8, 2011

RIP: Fred Imus, Songwriter & Don's Brother

Fred, Don Imus, nydn photo
Fred Imus, younger brother of 770 AM WABC morning host Don Imus and a long-time songwriter and radio host himself, was found dead Saturday at his home in Tucson, Ariz. He was 69.

According to a story by David Hinckley at nydailynews.com, He was found in his trailer after he failed to show up for "Fred's Trailer Park Bash," a weekend show he cohosted with Don Collier and "Missy" on Sirius XM's Outlaw Country channel.

In 1976 he and a fellow railroad worker named Phil Sweet cowrote "I Don't Want To Have To Marry You," a No. 1 country hit for Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius. It was voted song of the year by Music City News.

Fred collaborated with Don on the 1997 book "Two Guys Four Corners," which featured photographs and reminiscences of the Southwest, and with Daily News columnist Mike Lupica on 1998's "The Fred Book," which featured Fred's thoughts on life.

Fred was best known to New Yorkers and radio listeners as a laconic, droll, funny and sometimes ornery guest on his brother's syndicated show.

In the 1990s he ran Auto Body Express, which began as a garage where he worked on restoring vintage cars. Don mentioned it on the radio and that random remark soon turned it into a million-dollar clothing and food business.

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2 comments:

  1. I can't imagine a Saturday morning out on my boat without having Fred out there with me. God keep that man and bring solace to all of us who loved him.

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  2. Loved Fred. Maby he's running the Out of Body Express now.

    ReplyDelete