Don Imus is the one who has been battling cancer, so it was a shock Saturday (8/6) when his younger brother, Fred, was found dead at his home in Tucson, AZ. He was 69.
According to KOLD-TV Fred Imus was found in his mobile home after he failed to show up for his “Fred’s Trailer Park Bash,” the weekend show that he hosted on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country channel. There was no immediate information about the cause of death.
“Due to the death of his brother Fred, the I-Man will not be working this week,” said a statement on the website of “Imus in the Morning,” the nationally syndicated show of Don Imus.
While his brother was pursuing a career behind the microphone, Fred Imus worked as a brakeman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. But he and another railroad worker wrote a hit song back in the 1970s and Don said his brother had the talent to write more songs.
Listeners to the “I-Man” heard Fred for many years as a gruff and humorous telephone personality, running the Auto Body Express, where he restored vintage cars, and managing the sale of Imus-branded food items and clothing to raise money for the eventual creation of the Imus Ranch for children with cancer. Fred also worked at the New Mexico ranch in its early days, before moving to Tucson.
The younger Imus brother was the author of “The Fred Book,” with Mike Lupica – a collection of his thoughts on life – and collaborated with his brother on “Two Guys Four Corners,” which featured photos and remembrances of the US Southwest.
Fred Imus had hosted the weekly satellite radio show since May 2006.
The family plans a private funeral. Condolences may be posted on the guest book page of the Arizona Star.
Photo: Cast of Fred’s Trailer Park Bash (l-r) Don Collier, Nicole Cox and Fred Imus
