Mudbone
Encyclopedia
Mudbone is a recurring character in Richard Pryor
's stand-up shows. Debuting on the 1975 album ...Is It Something I Said?
, Mudbone is easily Pryor's most famous creation and made his stand-up shows much more than comedy. A wino philosopher born in Tupelo, Mississippi
, his character became an instant hit due to his satirical, surreal (and often completely ludicrous) takes on life. While Mudbone's age is not specified, the content of his monologues suggest that he is an ancient, almost immortal person. His "...and it's deep, too!" line in "Mudbone - Little Feets" hints that he is also very well endowed.
His famous monologues usually revolved around his own experiences in life. Famous examples include how he moved from Tupelo to Peoria, Illinois
(Pryor's hometown) in a tractor ("746 miles on one tank of gas!"), his brief stint in Hollywood where he auditioned for the lead in King Kong
and his humorous adventures shared with his best friend Toodlum.
Perhaps Mudbone's most philosophical and poignant speech was in Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
. During the show, the audience begins to yell "Do Mudbone!" and Pryor reluctantly resurrects the character. He improvised a bit where he talked more about the mysteries of life rather than his past experiences. He even poked fun at Pryor's infamous free-basing incident. Although Pryor told the audience "This is the last time you'll see Mudbone anywhere", he did occasionally resurrect the character in his final performances before succumbing to multiple sclerosis
.
Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
's stand-up shows. Debuting on the 1975 album ...Is It Something I Said?
...Is It Something I Said?
…Is It Something I Said? is the fourth official album release by Richard Pryor and the first he released on a new contract with Warner Bros. Records, a label he remained with for the rest of his recording career....
, Mudbone is easily Pryor's most famous creation and made his stand-up shows much more than comedy. A wino philosopher born in Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
, his character became an instant hit due to his satirical, surreal (and often completely ludicrous) takes on life. While Mudbone's age is not specified, the content of his monologues suggest that he is an ancient, almost immortal person. His "...and it's deep, too!" line in "Mudbone - Little Feets" hints that he is also very well endowed.
His famous monologues usually revolved around his own experiences in life. Famous examples include how he moved from Tupelo to Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
(Pryor's hometown) in a tractor ("746 miles on one tank of gas!"), his brief stint in Hollywood where he auditioned for the lead in King Kong
King Kong (1933 film)
King Kong is a Pre-Code 1933 fantasy monster adventure film co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, and written by Ruth Rose and James Ashmore Creelman after a story by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. The film tells of a gigantic island-dwelling apeman creature called Kong who dies in...
and his humorous adventures shared with his best friend Toodlum.
Perhaps Mudbone's most philosophical and poignant speech was in Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
Live on the Sunset Strip is a comedy album by Richard Pryor. Recorded in 1982, the film was the most financially lucrative of the comedian's concert films...
. During the show, the audience begins to yell "Do Mudbone!" and Pryor reluctantly resurrects the character. He improvised a bit where he talked more about the mysteries of life rather than his past experiences. He even poked fun at Pryor's infamous free-basing incident. Although Pryor told the audience "This is the last time you'll see Mudbone anywhere", he did occasionally resurrect the character in his final performances before succumbing to multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.