Background and Age

Rickey Smiley was born on August 10, 1968, in Birmingham, Alabama. After his father's untimely death when Rickey was six years old, he faced many hardships. His mother could not raise him alone and therefore leaned on her parents to help. His grandparents brought up rickey, and he encountered many difficulties in his younger days. Despite these difficulties, however, he has always said that his childhood was a lot of fun. Being surrounded by so many different family members and a strong sense of Southern culture have inspired his comedy, political viewpoints, and social activism. Rickey graduated from Woodlawn High School and then attended Tuskegee University for a brief period. He eventually received a Bachelor's Degree in English from Alabama State University in 1992. He remains a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

Family and Kids

Rickey is currently single. However, he has two boys, Malik and Brandon Smiley, and no information about his wife or girlfriend is available. He has also adopted eight children. On July 6, 2020, Smiley announced that his adopted daughter, Aaryn, had been shot during a road rage incident the previous weekend. The hardship of losing his father early was a significant motivator for opening his home and caring for many children. He loves spending time with all of his kids, taking them boating and fishing whenever he can. He denied the rumors that he was dating radio co-star Claudia Jordan. Rickey has stated: "If I ever get married again, it will be to somebody who can hold an intelligent conversation." He's also said that his ideal woman would read books, know who represents them in Congress, and teach him something.

Comedy Career

From early childhood, Rickey Smiley displayed his comedic talents at home among his family members. He took the stage in front of a live audience for the first time at a Comedy Club in Birmingham, Alabama. Smiley has mentioned in one of his interviews with BET.com that it was on November 13, 1989, that his comedy career began to take shape. Aside from giving his hometown fits of laughter, he began touring with talents like jazz singer Will Downing, comedian George Wallace, and gospel singer Dottie Peoples. With his opportunities expanding in the 90s, he appeared in TV specials like Def Comedy Jam, Showtime at the Apollo, and Snaps, an HBO feature. In 2002, he starred in the classic comedy film Friday After Next, alongside famous rapper and celebrity personality Ice Cube. He hosted another comedy show, The Way We Did It, on BET and won BET's Platinum Mic Viewer's Choice Award in 2004. Since those days of performing at small venues in Alabama, Rickey has produced six comedy CDs, appeared in numerous movies and television shows, and has achieved a net worth of 2.5 million dollars. Rickey's comedy shows are big hits, and he has been hailed as "one of the funniest people in America." Smiley is a clean comedian who does not use sexual innuendo or profanity in his shows, and his act is appealing to audiences of all ages. Further demonstrating his ability to be funny without profanity, Rickey collaborated with famous comedian, Steve Harvey, to construct acts designed specifically for churchgoers. As a multi-faceted performer, Rickey not only tells jokes but also plays multiple instruments and sings. Rickey even plays the piano and organ at his church. He has said about his comedy passion, "I love what I do and enjoy getting up every day with the expressed purpose of bringing joy into the lives of others through laughter. The greatest satisfaction I can receive is knowing that my talents are a form of escapism that brings happiness into so many deserving lives. To be blessed with sold-out tours, a successful radio show, and two Television platforms is more than I could ever have dreamed, and I am committed to working harder than ever to continue to be a positive influence and all-around best entertainer I can be."

Dirty Heads with Lupe Fiasco

August 6 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

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