When you are known as “The Funniest Man in America,” like comedian James Gregory, the bar is set pretty high every time you step on stage. With more than 8000 live shows under his belt and numerous appearances on some of the country’s most popular radio shows, like Bob and Tom or John Boy and Billy, his massive tribe of fans will tell you that he hits that mark every time.
Gregory is a Lithonia, Georgia native and began his comedy career in 1982, introducing acts at the Punch Line club in Atlanta, one of the first comedy clubs outside of New York and L.A. Eventually, he was asked to perform his own routines there, and crowds fell in love with his homespun brand of humor. Next, he started taking his show on the road. Gregory performed 8-9 shows each week, touring the country and building a loyal following. James has appeared on stage in 38 states.
In a career that has featured tours with George Jones, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, Reba McIntire, the Judd’s and many more, it would seem challenging to pick a high point. When asked what stands out most to him, James says, “I show up in a place, and it’s sold out, and they’re there to see me; when I hit the stage, that’s the highlight of my life.”
There have been other significant shows that James won’t tell you about, and you can’t find them online. The man famous for his fear of flying has flown to the Middle East to entertain a very special audience, our troops. You won’t find those pics on his Facebook page, and you won’t see them mentioned in interviews. Doing three shows a day on battleships and aircraft carriers, James says. “This was the most emotional experience of my entire career.”
When you attend a James Gregory show, you’ll get a break from the stress of the day. You won’t hear topics from the headlines or anything about Democrats or Republicans. James says, “My job is to take them away from that for a couple of hours, just to laugh, have a good time, and try not to think about current events.” You may, however, be reminded of that quirky relative we all have, learn why aliens always land near our most intelligent people, see why a covered dish is a national treasure, or discover why the guy that repairs your lawnmower may be your best choice to file your income tax return. You’ll hear new stuff, but also some of James’s classic material. One thing is sure; you will laugh and want to see him again.
Peruse the comments from some of his 800,000 plus Facebook followers. You’ll see “hilarious,” “I love this nut,” “James Gregory is the best,” and, perhaps most telling, one fan says, “I love watching him, he is so funny. He makes me laugh even if I’m feeling sad. He is a special kind of person that can just touch anybody with a good smile and laugh”. His YouTube videos have millions of views. Most artists would consider all of these accomplishments sufficient to retire, but James is still on the road, doing three shows a week, 42 weeks a year.
