James Gregory was a standup comedian known by his fans as the “Funniest Man in America.”
- Died: May 9, 2024 (Who else died on May 9?)
- Details of death: Died of cardiac complications at the age of 78.
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James Gregory’s legacy
Born in Georgia, Gregory was known for his standup shows across the southern United States. His laconic drawl was an unmistakable part of his routine, and he took his sweet time getting to his punchlines. Fans laughed uproariously as he riffed on modern life and poked fun at political correctness.
Gregory’s “clean comedy” act was always safe for television, but his appreciators were much more likely to see him live on stage or hear him on the radio. He was a frequent guest on radio shows like “The Bob & Tom Show,” “Rick and Bubba,” and “The John Boy & Billy Big Show.” Gregory did appear on TV on the Nashville Network, though he famously turned town an invitation to perform his standup on “The Tonight Show.” It came under the condition that he speed up his delivery, which he didn’t want to do.
Gregory’s “Funniest Man in America” title stemmed from a newspaper review early in his career. According to Gregory, the reviewer for Alabama’s Huntsville Times wrote, “I had never heard of this guy, but he’s got to be the funniest man in America.” The comedian jumped on the glowing review, including it in his press kit. Soon, it was picked up by other news outlets, and he began being billed as the “Funniest Man in America.”
Gregory on his clean comedy act
“It has nothing to do with morality … In private, I use foul language quite a bit myself, OK. But I learned rather quickly what happens. There’s some people who just don’t like foul language. In other words, they won’t go back to that same show … But no one, no one, leaves the show and says he was funny, but I’m not going back because he’s not dirty. To me it was just a business thing. Why would I want to alienate a percentage of the people.” — from a 2016 interview for the Montgomery Advertiser
Tributes to James Gregory
Full obituary: AL.com
