While in the United States Navy during World War II, he began performing as a singer and impressionist.

After the war, he went on to work at a steel mill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and continued performing nights as an opening act for artists such as Harry Belafonte.

In 1959, he appeared as a singer with folk music artist Rod McKuen on the Brunswick Records album entitled Songs Our Mummy Taught Us which included the two tracks, "The Mummy" and "The Beat Generation", also released as a single.

He was featured on the best-selling 1962 Vaughn Meader comedy LP The First Family In 1963, McFadden released the Audio Fidelity Records parody album entitled Fast, Fast, Fast Relief From TV Commercials followed by the 1968 Columbia Records spoken-word album The Medium Is the Massage.

McFadden continued to work until the late 1980s, when he was forced to retire due to failing health.