Frederick "Fred" Dames was born on March 10th, 1937 in New York, NY. He was the son of Jeanette Dames, a native of South Carolina. Fred had three siblings: Vivian, born in 1935; Nathaniell, born in 1933; and Edith, born in 1932. His mother Jeanette was 26 years old at the time of his birth.
Fred grew up in Manhattan. During his childhood he lived on West 138th Street. Fred later lived at 640 Riverside Dr, Apt 2c.