Fred Hammel was, first and last, and always, an entertainer.  He entertained us all in school, with his playful attitude and occasional "cut-up" antics.  After he left high school we lost track of Fred.  Some say he was a female impersonator in an act in the Gay-90's Bar on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis.  Well, he actually was!  If someone knows more about Fred during this period in his life, we invite them to use the "Post Comment" at the end of these dedicated remarks and inform us of Fred's coming of age at the Gay 90's.  At any rate, Fred was good...an excellent entertainer.  He could sing, dance, act, do stand-up comedy...he could do it all.  Back in high school most of us never even guessed that Fred was so talented.  Perhaps his talent was latent...ready to emerge later, after graduation.

It is not surprising that his desire to entertain prompted Fred to eventually move to California, where he spent most of his life.  He took the stage name of "Nick Farrell" and it appears on the publicity pamphlets he sent to us just prior to our "booking" him for our 40th Class Reunion.  Yes, we thought that after all those years, by age 58 we could try and put up with whatever "Nick" would provide for us in the realm of entertainment.  If you came to our reunion in 1998 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, MN, you saw Fred Hammel in all his glory.  He told jokes (some off-color); he sang and generally amused us.  Some of us were incensed.  Others, simply not surprised.  A few thought his act was hilarious.  We know how much he wanted to perform just for his old high school class, for he mentioned it; and he so wanted to return to Minnesota just one more time.  Good thing he did, for he passed away just before our 50th Class Reunion.  We think he knew that he didn't have long to live.  When we talked to him in California, before he arrived, he told us that he better come to the 40th, "'cause you just never know..."

"Nick Farrell's" by-line was that "If You Can Find A Better Performance...Book It!"   Fred was proud of his accomplishments as an entertainer.  He was named "Entertainer of the Year" -- 3 years in a row in the Bay Area around San Fransisco -- from 1970 to 1973.  He spent 20 years in that business, from age 18 to 38, doing songs and stand-up comedy.  He played gigs in Canada, Hawaii, Australia, Tokyo and all along the West Coast of the United States, in Washington, Oregon and California.  He played in Las Vegas, Reno, Elko and in Jack Pot, Nevada. 

At age 38 Fred bought a neighborhood bar in Fresno, CA, and worked at that business for the next 20+ years.  During that time Fred married, and he and his wife worked hard to make a go of that bar business, and they succeeded.  During the four years following age 55, Fred joined a "55 and up" acting troupe called the "New Wrinkles Show" which formed-up at the local City College at Fresno.  They did shows in Las Vegas and he and his senior pals were even interviewed on the TV Show 20/20.

When he came on stage at our 40th Class Reunion, he wanted, and got, the following introduction: "We knew him as Fred forty years ago, but here he is today, directly from Las Vegas, our very own -- the personable, the exciting, the debonaire, the dynamic...  Nick Hammel!"

Fred was the consumate "Entertainer's Entertainer".  From his own playbill we quote: "In this day of Rock & Roll & A-Go-Go, where the length of a person's hair and the amount of noise that is put forth determines popularity, there emerges from the midst of it all a person whose talent cannot be put into words.  We speak of NICK FARRELL, a talented & handsome young man whose talent will take him to the top of the stardom route.  Besides being a great personality, he has a voice that is bound to attract attention in the high circles of the entertainment world."  There is little doubt that Fred was very high on himself...but perhaps rightly so.

Nick Farrell sang such songs as 'Shadow of Your Smile," "King of the Road," "Bill Bailey," "Sermonette," " Cry," "Swanee," "Coloring Book," and many more.  He performed at Bimbo's, Brandun Arn, Bermuda Palms and the Green Olive (in California); the Forbidden City and Dunes (in Hawaii); Monte Carlo and Hanabasha (in Toyko); the Elks (in Washington); Club Portland (in Oregon) and...yes...the Gay 90's (in Minnesota).

Here he is, one more time, for your continuing entertainment...