October 10, 2007
When Earthquake hits Dallas for
his latest appearance at the Addison
Improv, it will be like returning
home for the DC
native.
Known for his
candid approach
to issues and life,
Earthquake
opened a comedy
club in Dallas in
the 1990s. He has
also had comedy
clubs in Atlanta
where he introduced some of the
hottest new comedians on the
scene.
Whether he’s live at Tom
Joyner’s Fantastic Voyage, Alonzo
Mourning’s Zo’s Summer Groove
All Star Celebrity Weekend, the Soul Beach Music Festival
or on the big screen,
Earthquake says his goal is to
give his all.
“That’s just what I am
going to do when I get back
to Dallas,” he said during a
recent interview. “I’m going
to be off the chain, hot like
the Cowboys.”
And Dallasites should
expect nothing less from
comedian-turned actor who
still keeps his stand-up game
tight by performing live,
criss-crossing the globe.
Dallas has a fond spot in his
heart because he says the
support has always been
strong there.
Interestingly when this
comedic veteran hits the
stage, his performance is not
scripted, which is the case
when he takes on those roles
on television, movie or in
plays.
Sure he likes acting.
“I like acting,” he said.
“It’s a different type of
muscle, though. When I do
comedy, I don‘t do the same
thing in order. I don’t have a
routine. You get whatever
comes out!”
And it’s that off-the-cuff
performance that keeps his
fan base growing as he
tackles everything from
Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and her
loyalty to George Bush
to terrorism and Whitney
Houston and drug use.
Earthquake is about to
film a one-hour special and
he’s put his acting skills to
use in a number of roles,
including one recurring role
as Chris’ uncle on the hit
television series Everybody
Hates Chris.
Citing several other
comedians as sources of
inspiration, Earthquake also
had praise for fellow
comedian Rickey Smiley,
who broadcasts live locally
in the mornings on 97.9 The
Beat.
“Rickey Smiley is a very
funny young brother,” he
said. “I love Eddie Murphy
and he can always make me
laugh. I love Steve Harvey’s
work ethic, J Anthony’s originality
and Bernie Mac’s
authenticity.”
And Smiley has nothing
but love for his contemporary.
“I love Quake and I
support him,” said Smiley,
whose show has become the
local stop for every
comedian from Dick
Gregory and Paul Mooney to
Guy Torry.
According to Earthquake,
those comedians are all welldisciplined
and have what it
takes to be successful.
For Earthquake, who cut
his teeth on comedy while in
the Air Force; everything is
not funny. While he touches
on many subjects, he says
there’s one thing he does not
play with—God. You’re not
going to find him making
any jokes about the Lord.
But that doesn’t mean you
won’t get a heck of a show
from this conscientious
comic. If history is an
indicator, he’ll be playing to
sold-out audiences at the
Improv and there won’t be a
disgruntled customer among
the bunch.
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