Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 May 2000 — Page 19
I N S I D E • C • SECT ION* PEOPLE & TRENDS
All hail to the queens
Comedy all stars set it
off
Special to The Recorder Editor’s Note: MyraJ. will not perform during the Indianapolis tour date. Latham Entertainment, the same company that introduced the country to the wildly successful “Kings of Comedy” Tour, presents the “Queens of Comedy” Tour at the Murat Theatre on
Friday, June 2.
Adele Givens, Myra J. Mo'Nique and Sommore are the talented ladies who Walter Latham, CEO of Latham Entertainment and mastermind of comedic royalty, has tapped as the “Queens of
Comedy.”
“Choosing the ‘queens’ was easy,” says Latham. “I simply asked the four funniest females in comedy if they liked the concept and, if they thought they could work together. When they all said yes, I immediately began putting the
tour together.”
While all are considered young comics, each of these women has enjoyed meteoric career success and they have quickly established them-
selves as favoritas with audiences across
Ray Charles performs June 18. Ray Charles, a man and his soul Special to The Recorder
One of a series
The name Ray Charles is a star on
Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. The name Ray Charles designates a superstar worldwide. His bronze bust is enshrined in the Playboy Hall of Fame. There is the bronze medallion that was cast and presented to him by the French Republic
on behalf of the French people. In just about every Hall of Fame that
has anything to do with music, be it Rhythm _ __ and Blues, Jazz, Rock & Roll, Gospel or America and, in comedic circles as well Country and West- Mo’Nique, CtMitar of "The Pstifft ”
em, Ray s name is very prominently displayed. There are many awards given to him in the foregoing categories as
proof.
Probably the strongest element in Ray Charles’ life, and the most concentrated driving force, is music. Charles often says, “I was bom with music inside me. That’s the only explanation I know.” Charles was not bom blind. In fact, it took almost seven years for him to lose his sight in its entirety, which means he had seven years to see the joy and sadness of the world — a world he would never see
again.
As a 7-year-old child, in searching for light, he stared at the sun continuously, thereby eliminating all chances of the modern-day miracle, cornea transplants — a miracle of surgery unheard of in
1937.
Perhaps the reason that Ray Charles has made music his mistress and fallen madly in love with the lady, is that music is a natural to him. He sits at a piano and the music begins; he opens his mouth and the lycics begin. He is in absolute control. But the rest of his life was not quite so simple. Charles was bom at the very beginning of the Great Depression — a depression that affected every civilized country in the world. He was bom in 1930 in Albany, Ga., the year that Indiana native Hoagy Carmichael, was already making hi; mark on the world. - ;In 1930, the year of Ray’s birth, Carmichael, who was bom in Bloomington in'1899, recorded a song that became an
Sommore
Audiences across America acknowledge Sommore, the Trenton, N.J., bom comedienne, as the diva of contempo-
ail-time classic and remains so to this day; rary comedy. Her comedy performances
a song titled “Stardust.” It’s ironic that these two would someday cross paths, as they did 30 years later when Ray Charles Was asked by the state of Georgia to perform in the Georgia Legislature chambers, the song they had selected as their state song. That song was Ray ’ s version of “Georgia,” written by Carmichael. Carmichael who unfortunately was too i|l to attend the event, was listening via
telephone/satellite tie-up.
Charles' mother and father, Aretha and Bailey, were “no-nonsense” parents. Even after Charles lost his sight, his mother continued to give him chores at
See CHARLES,Page C2
offer audiences a hilarious, piercing look at issues today from a female
perspective.
Sommore has emerged as one of America’s top glorified comedic performers, consistently providing her audiences with entertaining relief concerning the realities of everyday life. She tells her message the only way she knows how ... straight up. With a sharp wit and cutting sarcasm, Sommore speaks about “things that most women only think about, but never say.” Using everyday scenarios, her comedic style focuses on the importance she and many in her audience place on such things as money, sex and relationships between men and women. Her
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the number one show in Black households in all of television, which airs on the United Paramount Network (UPN), has excelled on the screen, in concerts
and clubs.
Adele Givens, who has worked with noted comedians, Sinbad, Damon Wayans and Martin Lawrence, was
featured in the motion picture, “Players
Club.” She also has a long list of
impressive television appearances in her repertoire, which include: “The Steve Harvey Show,” HBO’s ‘Tracey Takes On,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and “Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam.”
Sommore, known as the “Diva of
Contemporary Comedy,” offers audiences a view of issues from a female perspective. She provides her audiences with entertaining relief concerning the
realities of everyday life. She has appeared on a host of shows from
“Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam”
to “Showtime at the Apollo.” Myra J. can be heard each morning
on “The Tom Joyner Morning Show,” as she is co-host of the popular show
that reaches an estimated 7 million listeners on a daily basis. The multi-
talented performer acts and has written for some of television’s funniest sitcoms including, “Martin,” “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper,” and “Good News.” She has been featured in several motion pictures
including, “Bulworth,” “Indecent
Proposal,” ‘Talkin’ Dirty After Dark,”
and “House Party.”
views always represent the importance of being able to freely express herself, think intelligently and always represent herself with grace, style and class. Predominately Black audience comedy shows and concerts have flourished to become major entertainment events throughout the country in most major cities. These events are filled with untapped, highly creative theatrical comedians and comic actors. Sommore’s consistently wonderful live performances at these events has made her a widely recognized face among audiences. Her success is well deserved. “Black comedy is an expressive art, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” says Sommore, who views her own comedy as a form of self-expression. Her audiences find relief and comfort through her comedy. She finds humor in the current situations in everyday life and brings awareness to the positive and negative happenings in the lives of people. “Funny is funny regardless of color,” explains Sommore. Sarcasm coupled with realism empowers Sommore to express her point of view about how one needs to live — life in America today. Her mannerisms are laid back, but beneath her unadulterated style and grace lies an explosive sense of humor. Sommore is always ready to tell it like it is whenever a situation demands a candid approach. Appearing on a host of shows including BET’s “Live From L.A.,” and “Showtime at the Apollo,” Sommore’s quick and potent verbal wit has added a new dimension to stand-up comedy and generates much demand nationwide. In 1995, Sommore's racy stand-up act earned her the Richard Pryor Award for Comic of the Year. As the winner of this prestigious title, she was selected as first female host of BET’s “Comicview,” the show she went on to host for an entire year and which brought her into millions of homes daily. Recently, over 20 million viewers got to see Sommore’s brilliant stand-up comedy firsthand when she appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Appearing on the show was a milestone in Sommore’s career, and many can agree with Oprah’s statement that Sommore is
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“a force to be reckoned with.” Other noteworthy accomplishments for Sommore include several appearances on ABC’s “The Hughleys” and her performance on the HBO Special, “Snaps.” Now living in Hollywood, Sommore focuses on her theatrical as well as her comedic acting career, always entertaining with different characters in feature films and television sitcoms. She is currently working on her first book, a collection of some of her most hilarious and well-known tips on how to seduce a man and his pocketbook. Sommore, a favorite at Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City, continues to perform to sold-out audiences across the nation, earning the distinct reputation of being one of the only female comics accepted into the “Boys Club” of stand-up comedy. Her immense talents have earned her the title, “Queen of the Show,” and she always leaves her audiences wanting “Sommore.” Adele Qhrens Adele Givens is indisputably one of ' the top comedians in the business today. Critics have called her humor “thought provoking” and “witty.” Bom and raised on Chicago’s Westside, Adele has made people laugh for as long as she can remember. Adele began her career in November 1989 when she stepped on stage for the very first time at the Crown Royal Comedy Competition. The grand prize winner won die opportunity to perform at the finals at the fabulous Regal Theatre in Chicago. Naturally, she swept the crowd off their feet. She also was crowned the winner of the finals. This marked the beginning of a successful career with performances that have included: Russell Simmons’ “Def Comedy Jam,” from its debut in 1991 and every taping since, including becoming the first female host of the “All Star Jams and the Bad Girls,” “Showtime at the Apollo,’’ “Oprah,” “Martin,” “Moesha,” “The Steve Harvey Show,” “Vibe,” and four episodes of the Emmy Award winning ‘Tracy Ullman Show.” Adele was also nominated for best female stand up at the Soul Train
Comedy Awards and has had her own HBO “Comedy Half Hour” as well as a pilot for television. Adele recendy completed her first major motion picture role in “The Players Club,” directed by Ice Cube. Adele has also had the opportunity to work with such noted performers as: Sinbad, Damon Wayans, Jamie Foxx, Tommy Davidson and Martin Lawrence. All this in just eight short years. No wonder she has been dubbed the “Queen of Comedy” by her fans and peers alike. Only a queen could command sudt respect in such a short period of time and Adele Givens is jifoubtedly such a lady. Mo’Nique Comedy has never been the same since the voluptuous, outlandish 29-year-old Mo’Nique took the stage and had audiences roaring about her all over the country. Mo’Nique, comedfenfo model and actress, shot up the ladder of success in just a few short ye Mo’Nique started out in coiMfiffiyust joking around with her brother taking a dare from him. From^rre her career skyrocketed with her penorming stints on “Showtime at the Apollo” Russell Simmons “Def Comedy Jam,” “Apollo Comedy How, n “Snaps,” and BET “Comic View.” Her commanding stage presence and confidence comes from her days of stage acting and a successful career as a full-figure model. Mo’Nique’s angelic, church-girl look is the perfect contrast to her sexy-sweet style of comedy. No one ever expects such a pretty face to have such a challenging mouth. That best describes comedienne Mo’Nique. In a male-dominated profession, this lady has literally established herself as one of the heavyweights in comedy. Her versatility has taken her from high school and college audiences to adult comedy clubs, live concerts and television appearances. With a new fashion magazine and book on the horizon, she is establishing herself as one of the top entertainers in the business. Mo'Nique is from Baltimore, Md. She travels around the country electrifying audiences with her humor, chic style of dress, and dynamic personality.