The Humor Mill April 2015 | Page 64

[email protected] twitter: @comedian4christ I am excited to return from hiatus (post kidney transplant) to the Christian Comedy Continuum on Humor Mill with a comedian I have worked with and enjoyed as a fan of stand-up. Humor Mill Family let’s meet, Comedian Ron Baker, Jr. (a comedy career had just been birthed!) Comedian Ron Baker, Jr. is from Chicago Illinois, so as my Cleveland Cavaliers are preparing to beat the Bulls in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals—I was forced to get off the phone quickly with Ron before we started talking trash about each other’s team and players! C.C.C: What does Ron Baker Jr. bring to Christian Comedy? I still think Noah needs to cut that nappy ponytail-bun off and get a grown man haircut, I am sure Chi-Town has plenty of very capable barbers with working clippers to get the job done --but I digress…. *I included a picture of Ron with Jesse Jackson Sr. Note: Jesse Jackson Jr. was coincidently unavailable for photo-ops during the writing of this piece – and we all know why! Ron shared with me that his father Pastor Ron Baker, Sr. actually was one of the fore-fathers of Christian Comedy. Pastor Baker was asked by his Pastor to perform at church banquets in the 1970s. It sounds like Pastor Baker was hilarious, doing spot-on imitations of Howard Cosell, Sammy Davis Jr, President Jimmy Carter and other 1970’s icons. *The younger readers may need to google those name to get a better understanding! It is quite obvious that the apple did not fall far from the tree, most black comics come from funny families and Pastor Baker always encouraged Ron and his brother to hone their skills around the house. Much like the Elder Ron in the 70s, Ron Jr. is famous for his imitations well—Ron does a great Steve Harvey and Bishop Noel Jones (Preachers of LA) Ron did a Bishop Jones reprise during our interview and I could not stop laughing. Ron B: “I bring conscious-comedy to the stage, my act goes from family, to work, to relationships, and even politics.” Ron Baker Jr. does not use the title Christian Comedian, he states “I am a Christian who happens to be a Comedian….” Ron has appeared with Gospel artists like Fred Hammond, BeBe & CeCe Winans and a host of others. Ron has appeared on an episode of the smash hit Empire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Fire. Ron is a seasoned professional who has the support of his wife Kimberly as well as his two children. You can Facebook Ron Baker Jr. and keep yourself abreast of his live events and comedy-quips about our world. One of my recent favorites was a few Sundays ago when he wished Bruce Jenner a Happy Mother’s Day! You should book Ron Baker Jr. not only for your church event, but also your college, venue, or private function. You will get a hilarious memorable show that will allow you to repeat everything at work the next day without being escorted to HR. C.C.C: How did you get started in stand-up? I always ask my comics for a quote for our Humor Mill family….. Ron B: “It was 1983 and my father asked me to do what I had been doing around the house at his upcoming church banquet.” Ron Baker Jr: “The reason preacher’s kids are the baddest kids on the block—because they play with YOUR kids!” *There was a Pastor in attendance who enjoyed Ron Jr’s performance and asked him to come to his church banquet and do the same thing. Thanks to Comedian Ron Baker Jr. and the publisher of the Humor Mill Magazine Frank Holder 64 GOD’S BEST!