We worried about things like, 'If you scratch your neighbor's Subaru, should you leave a note?'" Biographer Cynthia True described a typical argument with his father: He joked to the Houston Post in 1987, "We were Yuppie Baptists. You're really good at this." Įarly on, Hicks began to mock his family's Southern Baptist religious beliefs. At home, he wrote his own one-liners and slid them under the bedroom door of Steve, who he thought was a genius, for critical analysis. While attending Stratford High School, he began performing comedy (mostly derivations of Woody Allen material) for his classmates. He was drawn to comedy at an early age, emulating Woody Allen and Richard Pryor, and wrote routines with his friend Dwight Slade. The family lived in Alabama, Florida, and New Jersey, before settling in Houston, Texas, when Hicks was seven years old. He had an older sister, Lynn, and an older brother, Steve. Hicks was born in Valdosta, Georgia, the son of James Melvin "Jim" Hicks (1923–2006) and Mary (Reese) Hicks.
In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 13 on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time. In 2007, he was number six on Channel 4's list of the "100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics", and rose to No. In subsequent years, his work gained significant acclaim in creative circles-particularly after a series of posthumous album releases-and he developed a substantial cult following. Hicks died of pancreatic cancer on February 26, 1994, at the age of 32.
He also achieved some recognition as a guitarist and songwriter. extensively and made a number of high-profile television appearances, but he amassed a significant fan base in the UK, filling large venues during his 1991 tour. His material-encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy-was controversial and often steeped in dark comedy.Īt the age of 16, while still in high school, Hicks began performing at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas.
William Melvin Hicks (Decem– February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. Dark comedy, political satire, observational comedyĪmerican culture, American politics, current events, pop culture, human sexuality, philosophy, religion, spirituality, recreational drug use, conspiracy theories, consumerism
0 kommentar(er)
