Richard Pryor #1
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:31 pm
I am a professional standup comic today, and it is definitely because of Richard Pryor. When I was in high school from 1980 to 1984, we had just gotten cable in our neighborhood, and I would set my alarm for 3:00 in the morning if Cinemax was running a Richard Pryor concert movie or special. I couldn't get enough.
In 1988, I went up onstage at an open mic at a comedy club, and 16 years later, I support myself and my family with standup comedy. I worked for George Carlin for a short while, which leaves Richard as my one living comedy hero who I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet. Richard Pryor is a living treasure, without whom there would be no Eddie Murphy, no Chris Rock, no Dave Chappelle, no Steve Harvey, no Bernie Mac, no Sinbad, no D.L. Hughley, no Martin Lawrence, nor dozens of others. Whenever a black comic does "the white voice," they're doing Richard Pryor.
Richard, you are the king, you helped me find what I wanted to do in life, and I will treasure you always. I wish you the best of health and all the good things in life!
In 1988, I went up onstage at an open mic at a comedy club, and 16 years later, I support myself and my family with standup comedy. I worked for George Carlin for a short while, which leaves Richard as my one living comedy hero who I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet. Richard Pryor is a living treasure, without whom there would be no Eddie Murphy, no Chris Rock, no Dave Chappelle, no Steve Harvey, no Bernie Mac, no Sinbad, no D.L. Hughley, no Martin Lawrence, nor dozens of others. Whenever a black comic does "the white voice," they're doing Richard Pryor.
Richard, you are the king, you helped me find what I wanted to do in life, and I will treasure you always. I wish you the best of health and all the good things in life!
