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#DADLIFE: positively viral A local comedian made a big splash recently when a short video of him talking with his son went viral. DJ Pryor who's about to turn 31, is already a seasoned professional, recently celebrating the 16th anniversary of his first on-stage comedy performance, but, he might have met his match with son Kingston, who at only 18 months old is quite the scene-
stealer. “I got started when I was just 15,” Pryor said. “I knew I had a gift, and I wanted to see where it would take me. I was raised in a violent neighborhood, there were a lot of gangs and drugs, but I wasn't in to that stuff. I knew I was better at being funny.”
As a teenager, Pryor would make the 7-mile walk to a local comedy club, hoping for a chance to share his talent. “One night, the bouncer said, 'I can't let you in here.'” Pryor said.” “I said, 'if I can make you laugh will you let me in.' I did, and he did, of course the owner was upset. I don't remember the joke I told, it was probably something about Michael Jackson, MJ was a big part of my performance back then.” The bouncer talked the owner into letting young Pryor have a shot. “I was supposed to have two minutes,” Pryor said. “But, the performer didn't show up that night. So the owner was in the background signaling me to keep it going. I bet I was on that stage for about 45 minutes.”
WELCOMES Pediatrician
That was his first big moment, and it felt right. “I thought, okay, this might be something,” Pryor said. “I'm a storyteller. I pull from my real-life experiences. Most of the comics I look up to do the same. Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy are the tops of my list, but I love comics like Jerry Seinfeld as well. I actually just met a writer who has worked with him for 30 years.
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By Tony Centonze
Clarksville Living
“He was telling me who he was, and I was like 'I'm very familiar your work'. He heard my stand-up and loved it. He said, 'you're a young comic, you're funny, you have perspective. Keep pulling from inside yourself.' Getting that advice, I thought that was amazing.” Pryor's career in comedy is not
