Franklyn Ajaye
Encyclopedia
Franklyn Ajaye is an American stand-up comedian. His nickname is "The Jazz Comedian" as he also played jazz
for a time earlier in his entertainment career. His name is sometimes alternatively spelled Franklin Ajaye.
by a Sierra Leonan father and a Florida-born mother. Ajaye is, as he likes to joke, a "true African-American." He has released five comedy album
s to date: Franklyn Ajaye, Comedian (1973), I'm a Comedian, Seriously (1974), Don't Smoke Dope, Fry Your Hair (1977), Plaid Pants and Psychopaths (1986), and Vagabond Jazz & the Abstract Truth (2004).
Ajaye made his network debut on The Flip Wilson Show
in 1973 and made his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
a year later. In 1977, he appeared in episode 5, during season 3 of Saturday Night Live.
Ajaye emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1997, but returns to the United States periodically to do stand-up at clubs or in television specials. He is known in Australia for his appearances on The Panel and Thank God You're Here
. Recently he appeared in Bridesmaids as Maya Rudolph's father.
He has also worked as an actor, appearing in films such as Car Wash, Convoy, Stir Crazy
, The 1980 version of The Jazz Singer
, Hollywood Shuffle
, and The Wrong Guys
. He has been seen more recently in the TV show Deadwood
. Ajaye has also been nominated twice for the Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for In Living Color
(1990) and Politically Incorrect
(1997).
On his stand-up television show Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle
, British comedian Stewart Lee
mocked Ajaye's LP I'm a Comedian, Seriously, sarcastically questioning the track titles of "Homosexuals," "Girls With Big Breasts," and "Dick Caught In Zipper," in the context of the claim on the album sleeve that Ajaye was a deep thinker.
On an episode of Thank God You're Here
, Tony Martin
showed Ajaye a copy of his comedy album Plaid Pants And Psychopaths which has his first name misspelled.
Ajaye is the author Comic Insights: The Art of Standup Comedy (ISBN 978-1-879505-54-4), which contains tips for aspiring comedians as well as interviews with comic legends.
In 2011, Ajaye had a small role in the box office hit Bridesmaids
, playing the father of Lillian (played by Maya Rudolph
).
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
for a time earlier in his entertainment career. His name is sometimes alternatively spelled Franklin Ajaye.
Biography
He was born in Brooklyn, New York but raised in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
by a Sierra Leonan father and a Florida-born mother. Ajaye is, as he likes to joke, a "true African-American." He has released five comedy album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s to date: Franklyn Ajaye, Comedian (1973), I'm a Comedian, Seriously (1974), Don't Smoke Dope, Fry Your Hair (1977), Plaid Pants and Psychopaths (1986), and Vagabond Jazz & the Abstract Truth (2004).
Ajaye made his network debut on The Flip Wilson Show
The Flip Wilson Show
The Flip Wilson Show is a variety show that aired in the U.S. on NBC from September 17, 1970 to June 27, 1974. The show starred American comedian Flip Wilson; the program was one of the first American television programs starring a black person in the title role to become highly successful with a...
in 1973 and made his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
a year later. In 1977, he appeared in episode 5, during season 3 of Saturday Night Live.
Ajaye emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1997, but returns to the United States periodically to do stand-up at clubs or in television specials. He is known in Australia for his appearances on The Panel and Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here is an Australian television improvised comedy program created by Working Dog Productions, which premiered on Network Ten on 5 April 2006, and aired for the first three seasons with Seven for the fourth season...
. Recently he appeared in Bridesmaids as Maya Rudolph's father.
He has also worked as an actor, appearing in films such as Car Wash, Convoy, Stir Crazy
Stir Crazy (film)
Stir Crazy is a 1980 American comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor as down-on-their-luck friends who are given 125-year prison sentences after being framed for a bank robbery; while in prison they befriend other inmates and ultimately escape. In 2000, Total Film magazine voted it the...
, The 1980 version of The Jazz Singer
The Jazz Singer (1980 film)
The Jazz Singer is a 1980 American musical remake of the 1927 classic The Jazz Singer. It starred Neil Diamond, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Lucie Arnaz and was co-directed by Richard Fleischer and Sidney J...
, Hollywood Shuffle
Hollywood Shuffle
Hollywood Shuffle is a 1987 comedy film that satirizes the racial stereotypes of African Americans in film and television. The film tracks the attempts of Bobby Taylor to become a successful actor and the mental and external roadblocks he encounters, represented through a series of interspersed...
, and The Wrong Guys
The Wrong Guys
The Wrong Guys is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Danny Bilson.-Plot:Thirty years ago Louie Anderson was the leader of a group of Cub Scouts, Den 7: "The Owl Patrol", consisting of himself, neurotic Richard, ladies man Belz, smooth talking Franklin and surfer dude Tim...
. He has been seen more recently in the TV show Deadwood
Deadwood (TV series)
Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
. Ajaye has also been nominated twice for the Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for In Living Color
In Living Color
In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
(1990) and Politically Incorrect
Politically Incorrect
Politically Incorrect is a late-night, half-hour political talk show hosted by Bill Maher that ran from 1993 to 2002. It premiered on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1997, and later on ABC in 1997, which cancelled it in 2002....
(1997).
On his stand-up television show Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle is a comedy series created by Stewart Lee.The BBC Two series debuted on 16 March 2009, and featured stand-up routines and sketches performed by Simon Munnery, Kevin Eldon and Paul Putner amongst others. Peter Serafinowicz recorded voice-over parts. The series is...
, British comedian Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee is an English stand-up comedian, writer and director known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring, and for co-writing and directing the critically acclaimed and controversial stage show Jerry Springer - The Opera...
mocked Ajaye's LP I'm a Comedian, Seriously, sarcastically questioning the track titles of "Homosexuals," "Girls With Big Breasts," and "Dick Caught In Zipper," in the context of the claim on the album sleeve that Ajaye was a deep thinker.
On an episode of Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here is an Australian television improvised comedy program created by Working Dog Productions, which premiered on Network Ten on 5 April 2006, and aired for the first three seasons with Seven for the fourth season...
, Tony Martin
Tony Martin (comedian)
Tony Francis Martin is a comedian and writer from Te Kuiti, New Zealand who has had a successful TV, radio, stand-up and film career in Australia.- Career :...
showed Ajaye a copy of his comedy album Plaid Pants And Psychopaths which has his first name misspelled.
Ajaye is the author Comic Insights: The Art of Standup Comedy (ISBN 978-1-879505-54-4), which contains tips for aspiring comedians as well as interviews with comic legends.
In 2011, Ajaye had a small role in the box office hit Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids (2011 film)
Bridesmaids is a 2011 American romantic comedy film written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, directed by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, and Clayton Townsend. The plot centers on Annie ....
, playing the father of Lillian (played by Maya Rudolph
Maya Rudolph
Maya Khabira Rudolph is an American actress, comedienne and singer known for her comedic roles as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2007, and for appearing in films such as Away We Go, Bridesmaids, Grown Ups, A Prairie Home Companion and MacGruber...
).
External links
- Franklyn Ajaye discography at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...