Rickey Smiley

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Rickey Smiley (born August 10, 1968 in Birmingham) is a standup comedian, television host, actor, and radio personality best known for his prank phone calls.

Smiley graduated from Woodlawn High School and attended Alabama State University.

As a stand-up comic, Smiley has appeared on "Showtime at the Apollo", HBO's "Def Comedy Jam", HBO's "Snaps", "The Nashville Network", "Uptown Comedy Club", and "Comic Escape." He is known as one of the few "clean" black comics, preferring to use humor rather than vulgarity to get laughs. He hosted the 2000 season of BET's "ComicView" program.

Smiley has appeared on television and in several feature films, often as himself. He portrayed a robber dressed as Santa Claus in the 2002 motion picture Friday After Next. In 2015 he starred in Rickey Smiley For Real, a reality show based on his life which aired on TV One until 2017.

Smiley launched his morning radio show on KBFB Radio in Dallas, Texas in April 2004. The program features the trademark prank calls, as well as news, information and music. In 2008 the show was picked up by Syndication One, which merged with Reach Media in 2013. It is currently produced in Atlanta, Georgia and aired in around 100 markets across the country. In Birmingham it airs on WBHK 98.7 KISS-FM, a Summit Media-owned station.

For several years, since taking the mantel from the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Smiley has hosted a live broadcast of the annual Magic City Classic in Birmingham. The event, sponsored by Summit Media since 2013, had been held at Legion Field or at the BJCC Concert Hall and was free for the public to attend.

In 2023 Summit did not budget for the production, but Smiley decided to host it himself. He arranged to hold the event at the Comedy Club Stardome and charged $30 per ticket to try to recoup some of the costs. He has since been in talks with Mayor Randall Woodfin to bring the free event back to the BJCC in 2024.

Filmography

  • Friday After Next (2002)
  • Sweet Hideaway (2003)
  • First Sunday (2008)
  • Stomp the Yard: Homecoming (2010)
  • Baggage Claim (2013)
  • F**K Child Support (2015)
  • Iron Grit (2019)
  • Miracles Across 125th Street (2021)

Television appearances

  • Def Comedy Jam (1992)
  • Snaps (1995)
  • Showtime at the Apollo (2000)
  • Players (2003)
  • ComicView (2004)
  • Comedy Central Presents (2006)
  • 1st Amendment Stand Up (2008–2009)
  • Dish Nation (2011–2019)
  • The Rickey Smiley Show (2012–2014)
  • Trumpet Awards (2013)
  • Stellar Awards (2014–2016)
  • The Real Housewives of Atlanta (2014–2018)
  • Rickey Smiley For Real (2015–2017)
  • Black Music Honors (2017–2020)
  • Super Bowl Gospel Celebration (2021)

Discography

  • Rickey Smiley (2003) The Best of Comedian Rickey Smiley Vol. I
  • Rickey Smiley (2003) Rickey Smiley: Prank Calls Vol. II
  • Rickey Smiley (2004) Rickey Smiley: Vol. III
  • Rickey Smiley (2004) Rickey Smiley Off The Hook Volume 4
  • Rickey Smiley (2006) Rickey Smiley: Vol. V
  • Rickey Smiley (2011) Rickey Smiley: Vol. 6

Trivia

  • Smiley is a graduate of Alabama State University. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and is known for informing audiences of his membership in his acts.
  • Smiley is also a pianist and often plays the piano in his shows.

References

  • "Rickey Smiley." (October 8, 2023) Wikipedia - accessed October 22, 2023
  • Short, Cody D. (October 22, 2023) "SummitMedia drops Rickey Smiley’s Magic City Classic show, but Birmingham steps up." AL.com

External links

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