While proud of his roots, the "Funniest Man inAmerica" says he has some resentment over being labeled a Southern comedian. He said his brand of humor is family-oriented and universal in its appeal.

Georgia native James Gregory will bring his popular and unique, but politically incorrect, take on life to the Stevenson Auditorium at 8 p.m. Friday, March 13. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for the show, sponsored by the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association. Reserved seats are $28.50.

Gregory says he thinks he is still in business after more than 25 years in stand-up comedy because his material is garnered from real life situations. Having held various jobs from salesman to the U.S. Postal Service, he says he has lived long enough to know people and life. Gregory spends 45 weeks each year on the road sharing that knowledge.

"These are situations that people can relate to," Gregory said. "My comedy is clean, and my show is family-oriented. Some have said that clean comedy must be dull, but it's hysterical from beginning to end."



His casual on-stage appearance is reminiscent of a favorite relative -- shirt untucked, collar unbuttoned and wearing tennis shoes -- complete with exaggerated arm gestures and a face that can turn any story into an automatic sight gag.

"After my shows, the most frequent comment I get is that I remind someone of their uncle, their brother or another family member," Gregory said. "I don't localize my humor to the venue at which I'm appearing, but I hang out in the lobby before and after the show. This gives me that one-on-one relationship with people.

"For instance, I have a routine about being a Baptist and how we always deal with every conceivable tragedy with a covered dish," Gregory said. "We will spend more time talking about the food than the poor soul who died. Everyone knows what I'm talking about."

Even when he offers his views on everything from out-of-control environmentalists to modern, sensitive parents, Gregory concedes that his observations could be different from others by uttering what has become his trademark phrase: "It could be a law ... I don't know."

Gregory says that he has never labeled his comedy as "Southern" during any of his performances, despite the fact he has performed all across the country and twice overseas.

"I always thought there is a double standard there. A guy born in Brooklyn who everyone knows is from New York City when he opens his mouth can go into the South and do comedy about that area, the subways, and no one refers to him as a Northern comedian," Gregory said. "But the minute I talk about tornados and mobile homes, the media pegs me as a Southern comedian, even though the biggest mobile home concentrations are outside of Chicago and in San Jose, California."

He now concentrates his touring in the Southeast, Southwest and Midwest. Gregory says he enjoys coming to South Carolina and considers the Palmetto State a second home.

"When I started doing stand-up comedy in 1983, my first paid engagements outside of Georgia were in South Carolina," Gregory said. "The people there have always been good to me.

"I love coming to South Carolina, especially for two reasons -- Powerball and Bojangles,'" he said, laughing.

Although Gregory has been interviewed countless times for newspaper and magazine articles and regularly appears on syndicated radio shows, he says he still loves performing at small venues like Stevenson best. The March 13 show will mark his third consecutive year performing there.

"So many folks still think that the best places for entertainment are in Charlotte or Atlanta," Gregory said. "Recently, I was in Aiken at a small venue, a performing arts center that is one of the finest facilities in the country. If I could make the same kind of money at the smaller venues that I can at one large venue, I'd never do the bigger places."

The material Gregory uses in his act changes from time to time. But Gregory says he still does many of his classic stories for a specific reason.

"I always try to give the audience a few minutes of new stuff," Gregory said. "But I learned something from (country music legend) George Jones that I've never forgotten. When I was in Nashville one night, he and his wife came to the show and he visited me in the green room backstage, telling me I needed to do some of my old routines.

"He said, 'Lemme tell you something. What you do is similar to what I do. When my fans buy a ticket to a show, they expect me to do the latest song from my recent album but if I refused to do the old standards, I'd have to refund their money. That's the same reason people come to see you.'"

To reserve tickets for James Gregory, call Bernice Tribble at 803-531-6186 or Emagene Brewer at 803-533-6000.

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