The Comedy God Father

[smitty]

Here is why I love Rich. This a portion of an e-mail I sent him when I googled this site.

My father introduced me to the art of comics at the tender age of ten years old. He didn't do it on purpose. I found his private stash of comedy 8 tracks and every chance I got I would sneak away and listen to guys like Redd Foxx, Rudy Ray Moore, Moms Mabel, Flip Wilson and Pig Meat. I didn't get caught until my dumb ass said "hey Pop you want to here a joke" and I repeated one of Redd Foxx's jokes. What's the difference between a rich girl and a poor girl? The punch line is a rich girl has a canopy over her bed and
a poor girl has a can of pee under her bed.

Sometime after that he turned me on to the man who set my comedy soul on fire. I can still here the emcee on the album saying "Mr. Richard Pryor". It was the "Is It Something I Said?" album. I would sneak my friends over to
here your version of the jokes cause they had heard me repeat them. By the way I use to kill with your material. (LOL)

When I was 16 a friend of find was playing basketball and just drop dead on the court. That f*!@ my 16 year old logic up, "you ain't suppose to die
at sixteen that shit is for old people." That was a tough year for me all I
thought about was death. My friend Chris's death, my death and death in general I was depressed most of that year. I was a sixteen year old basket case nobody knew because I keep it to myself I didn't want death to know I was thinking about his ass. Didn't want to give him any incentive. In 1979 your Wanted album came out and it literally saved my life. I laughed so hard snot came out my nose. You made me stop thinking about Death and start thinking about life again.

THANK YOU RICH!

I was one of the hundreds of comics you inspired to share the gift of laughter with the world.

After college I went on the road and performed at comedy clubs all over the country. I even did a sat in the Belly Room of the Comedy Store. Never did move to L.A. and stop performing 13 years ago to be a family man. I miss
the stage and I hope to return one day to finish what I started.

I have lots of perspective now. I will be in L.A. Jan, Feb., March and April for Pilot season. My youngest son has picked up the torch. I will use this time to start working out agian.

Hope this was the right place to post this.

PLEASE CORRECT ME IF AM AM WRONG.

[bingolong]

smitty,
Right On,great story!!Welcome to the site and thanks for representing the south with me!!

[smitty]

bingolong,

Thx for the welcome BGL.
Good to repersent the Dirty South wit ya.

[amp-d]

smitty,

Great story. Welcome to the sight. If you get the itch to do comedy in Atlanta call a place called the Twisted Taco on Sunday nights it is in The Midtown District. It is every Sunday from 8 to 10 pm. Nice group of people down there and they love to laugh.

[AfroJewbu]

smitty,

Thanks for your history! It's inspirational for a guy that it has taken 50 years to scratch the comedy itch, and I'm scratichin @ 50 and lovin it!

Go on steo back out there!

[bingolong]

AfroJewbu,
Yeah man I just checked out the article in the Pittsburg Courier about you after checking out your profile page!!
Right On Man!!!!

[smitty]

amp-d,

Thx. for the tip. I have been looking for places other than the Punch Lines open mike night.

[smitty]

AfroJewbu,

Funny is funny. So go for it.

[Jennifer]

smitty,
Big welcome----