If you've worked as a barbecue chef, a Frito-Lay salesman and a spokesman for Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, you've got to have a few good stories.
Bruce Bruce did and does.
IF YOU GO* What: Bruce Bruce and Friends.* When: 8:30 p.m. today.* Where: Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave.* Admission: $25-$45, plus convenience fees.* Phone: 642-8497.* Website: www.ChattanoogaOnStage.com.
The comedian, born Bruce Church in Atlanta, will be sharing his adult comedy with an audience at Memorial Auditorium tonight. He'll be joined in the night of comedy -- hosted by Griff -- by Don "D.C." Curry, Kevin Simpson, Nick Lewis and Miss Tanill.
Bruce Bruce has hosted two seasons of BET's "Comic View," headlined the 2008 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and appeared in the films "Idlewild," "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector," "Hair Show," "The Wash," "Who's Your Caddy?" and "XXX: State of the Union."
He's also a published author, recently releasing "Baby James Brown," which tells stories from his childhood and how he got to be the comedian he is today.
During his days as a Frito-Lay salesman, Bruce Bruce was asked to perform comedy sets during corporate meetings and eventually took his routine to the Comedy Act Theater in Atlanta. There, he was an instant hit, according to his online biography, and he auditioned incessantly at various clubs when BET's "Coast to Coast" came to town in search of new stand-up comedians.
Ultimately, he appeared on the show three times, made his first appearance on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam" in 1993 and followed that with a role on "Showtime at the Apollo" hosted by Steve Harvey in 1994. In 1995, he made two additional appearances at New York City's Apollo Theater.
Bruce Bruce also was a two-time host for BET's "Coming to the Stage," starred in his own "Comedy Central Presents" special and was the subject of Urban Works Entertainment's release of the one-hour comedy special DVD "Bruce Bruce Live."
Nothing if not versatile, he also has made guest appearances in videos with Ludacris and the Ying Yang Twins (after being named in their song "Salt Shaker"), the Quad City DJs (in their 1996 hit "Come on Ride the Train") and Outkast (in the music video "So Fresh, So Clean").
When not performing in comedy clubs, Bruce divides his time between homes in Atlanta and Los Angeles.