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<\/a>In the \u201970s Penner cofounded a children\u2019s dance theatre company, which led to the creation of his first record, The Cat Came Back<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was kind of the refocusing of working with families and with children in theatres in Winnipeg, at that point,\u201d says Penner. \u201cThen the generation was open at that point to myself, and to Raffi, and Sharon, Lois, and Bram.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Penner toured extensively in the \u201980s, a time he says was massive for anyone involved with working with children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was clear the demand was there,\u201d says Penner. \u201cIt was clear I had the ability to bring that positive, uplifting style to the children and the parents\u2014and the grandparents, for that matter\u2014so that\u2019s what sort of set the foundation for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ability to perform for children is all-encompassing for Penner, who says he looks at his work as being for the spectrum of humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat I get from a child is this delight and excitement in hearing music,\u201d he says. \u201cI think what a child appreciates, or what I hope they appreciate, is that I do not condescend\u2014that when I talk to a child, I\u2019m really interested in what they have to say and what they are experiencing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This level of engagement has led to an undeniably successful career. Still, Penner says he often goes back to that early stage in his career to remind himself of the value of what he does and to keep that clear to himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope that I bring a sense of integrity for what I am presenting to the audience, often a very vulnerable part of society\u2014the children,\u201d says Penner. \u201cSo, understanding that has set a foundation for me to be creative from, and that has allowed me to be consistent over and over for four decades with just about everything I\u2019ve done. You\u2019re only as good as your last gig.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n