In 1977, a young 19 year old black man decided to give stand-up comedy a try. When Kenny Robinson was five years of age he sang a Bill Bailey song to an audience in a jazz club. His father was an agent, and the band let him go up and sing. He still remembers a beautiful woman in a black dress who captivated him with her interest in his song. He knew entertainment was for him, and has forever had a weakness for women in black dresses!
Robinson was fascinated with entertainment, and always wanted to be an actor. He attended the University of Winnipeg. The drama department produced shows on the 1919 General Strike, and period pieces. As a young black man, there were no parts for him to play! He decided to give stand-up a try, as it was much more accessible to him! He went on stage once at age 19, and has never looked back!
Even at age 19, Robinson was labelled as a raunchy comic. He feels what he does now is much raunchier; however, people were more easily shocked in the early 80’s. He received a reputation of being dirty, and censor warnings have followed him ever since. What has changed in comedy most he says is that women are now doing blue material. Back in the day, he says people barely thought women were funny, and if they dared try dirty comedy, they were saddled with horrible labels. Fast forward many years later and women are all over the dirty material!
When Robinson began, the comedy scene was slow in Winnipeg, and he headed down to Chicago. Through his work in Chicago, he was able to better learn and study his craft. He loves stand up because of the creative process: the initial ideas, shaping the material, the roar of the crowd, freedom of speech, point of views you want to share, and instant gratification. He feels comedy is a high wire act, and he enjoys the camaraderie with other comedians. Stand up comedy is the passion of his lifetime.
Robinson was fascinated with entertainment, and always wanted to be an actor. He attended the University of Winnipeg. The drama department produced shows on the 1919 General Strike, and period pieces. As a young black man, there were no parts for him to play! He decided to give stand-up a try, as it was much more accessible to him! He went on stage once at age 19, and has never looked back!
Even at age 19, Robinson was labelled as a raunchy comic. He feels what he does now is much raunchier; however, people were more easily shocked in the early 80’s. He received a reputation of being dirty, and censor warnings have followed him ever since. What has changed in comedy most he says is that women are now doing blue material. Back in the day, he says people barely thought women were funny, and if they dared try dirty comedy, they were saddled with horrible labels. Fast forward many years later and women are all over the dirty material!
When Robinson began, the comedy scene was slow in Winnipeg, and he headed down to Chicago. Through his work in Chicago, he was able to better learn and study his craft. He loves stand up because of the creative process: the initial ideas, shaping the material, the roar of the crowd, freedom of speech, point of views you want to share, and instant gratification. He feels comedy is a high wire act, and he enjoys the camaraderie with other comedians. Stand up comedy is the passion of his lifetime.
Through this passion, Robinson has grown older, slower, and more mature. While still exceptionally funny, he has mortgages and ten years of child support, he just can't find room and time for drugs and girlfriends. He has tamed in his old ways, grown up, and now uses the stage first and foremost as a venue for sharing a point of view. He has a hilarious way of doing so, but their is always a point to what he is saying. His voice is that he is here, he takes his own chances. There was a period of time he talked about race, then violence against women, and then support our troops and get out of Afghanistan. His point is that he always has a point of view, not just wishy washy.
Robinson used to be on the road constantly, but now he will not be away from his family for long stretches of time. The most he spends away is a trip each year to South Africa for three weeks. The rest, three days is the most he will spend away.
While he will always perform stand up, he is also interested in getting back into talk radio. He believes it is gaining popularity in Canada, but it is exploded in the United Sates. He will perform until the day he dies. He caveats that if he wins the lottery, he will spend it all producing tours of comics that he supports, those like Darren Frost, Bobby Mair and Kathleen McGee. He would produce that show as Beauty and the Beast, although with a few words not approved for fairy tales!
Robinson believes some new comics believe the new world order is to bring awareness and make it funny. Young comics though have to find out what they believe in and what they want to say, or they may know what they want to say but don’t know how to say it. He believes all brand new comics need to find their voice, and read as much as possible. The new comics need be aware that success won't come over night, and that if they don’t love it, it may not love you back. He also advises young comics not to travel with drugs because you can get them where you end up.
Robinson believes some new comics believe the new world order is to bring awareness and make it funny. Young comics though have to find out what they believe in and what they want to say, or they may know what they want to say but don’t know how to say it. He believes all brand new comics need to find their voice, and read as much as possible. The new comics need be aware that success won't come over night, and that if they don’t love it, it may not love you back. He also advises young comics not to travel with drugs because you can get them where you end up.
Robinson is performing at Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club this weekend. Call 236-LAFF, and tell them JH5 sent you!
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