Fred Berman

What was the first audiobook you performed?

The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements

What title or series are you best known for?

Big Nate series by Lincoln Peirce

If a listener wanted to get to know your work, which of your audiobooks would you point them to?

The Labors of Hercules Beale by Gary D. Schmidt
Horns by Joe Hill
Antkind by Charlie Kaufman
The Unconventional Heroes Series by LG Estrella
The Walking Dead Series by Jay Bonansinga

Where else have we heard your voice?

Disney's The Lion King on Broadway, Timon (16 years and counting)
Alan Wake, Barry Wheeler
Max Payne 2 & 3, Vinnie Gognitti
GTA, lots of people you've probably run over or punched
Hundreds of TV & Radio Commercials

What do you always have in the booth?

I always have some water, coffee ( I know, I know…), Lip Session lip balm, pictures of my kids, and my Iron Maiden "Eddie" action figures, of course. Having a microphone in there helps, too. Sometimes.

How did you come to performing audiobooks?

My agents at the time sent me out to audition for Andrew Clement's new book, The Last Holiday Concert. It was my very first audition for an audiobook, and I very luckily booked it. I worked with the amazing Paula Parker and Paul Ruben at John Marshall Media (John Marshall Sound at that time), and they, along with John Marshall Cheary, were all kind enough to keep bringing me back for more and introduced me to many of the amazing producers and directors I still work with today!

Anything else you’d like a listener to know?

Honestly, I'm just thrilled that anyone would want to listen to me tell them a story. I consider it a pretty amazing privilege to be able to work in the audiobook industry, in such a wide variety of genres, and I try to use my best instincts and give my all to every book I narrate. I'm sure my style and voice isn't for everyone, but then again, my favorite band is Rush…so, listen, I get it.
Also, and more importantly: I'm a child of the 80s, and a rock and roll drummer at heart (and in my basement). My first high school band's name was called UNLEASHED; I had a gorgeous mullet and we opened our sets with "Panama" by Van Halen and then went right into "Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio, and that's how I like it.