Jay Black’s wise-cracking jokes and attendees’ belly-laughs will fill the air for a night of comedy for a cause for cops.
The night of comedy will be held on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at Marco’s Restaurant at Indian Spring Country Club at 11 S. Elmwood Road. The event is being hosted by the Evesham Township Police Department for the Evesham chapter of the Police Unity Tour.
The event will be hosted by Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Gregg Murphy. Black is headlining the night. Black is a regular guest on WIP on Angelo Cataldi’s Big Daddy Graham talk radio show. There will be a buffet dinner and draft beer.
Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. To order tickets, call Lt. Brian Rosenberg at (856) 985–6010 or email [email protected].
According to Rosenberg, each member of the Evesham chapter team must raise $1700. There are nine members in the team, which includes six riders and three supporters.
The bicycle ride is May 9 through 14. On May 9 the team will meet in East Hanover and will ride for three days and arrive in Washington, D.C., on May 12.
The riding schedule will be 60 miles the first day, 100 miles the second day and 60 miles the third day when they will arrive in Washington, D.C.
There will be a candlelight vigil on May 13.
Black, who is a 1994 graduate of Cherokee High School, was inclined to agree to do the show because Marlton is his hometown and he is a current resident.
According to Rosenberg, he reached out to Black after hearing him on the radio. He went to Black’s website, www.jayblackcomedy.net, and emailed him.
When Black received the request, he made certain he could make it to the event.
“I love it here. I told my agent figure out a way to make it work,” Black said. “Making the police happy in your hometown is usually a good idea.”
According to Sandy Student, Evesham board of education member, when he caught wind of the event he knew he had to attend.
“I’ll definitely go, this is a huge event. Jay Black is a resident of Marlton, and he’s all over,” Student said. “He’s really funny guy. You can watch his videos on YouTube. He’s funny. He’s a great guy.”
Student said he is proud of the ETPD and not just its commitment to the fellow officers, but the citizens as well.
“We don’t just enforce the law, we serve the public. There’s a difference,” Student said.
Jokes aside, Black said he appreciates the dedication of all those who serve the community, and the nation.
“It’s important. I know I’m a big softie. I could never do what they do,” Black said.
Black said he loves what he does, and this fundraiser is his way of giving back to the police.
“This is my ‘being funny for the people who do things I can never’ do weekend,’” Black said.
Black often opens for Kevin Nealon, who was a cast member Saturday Night Live, and has appeared in Weeds and Grandma’s Boy.
According to Black, he got his start in Philadelphia due to an attempt to woo a lady.
“While I was at Shawnee (as a teacher), I met a substitute teacher who was very attractive. I wanted to impress her so I did an open mic in northeast Philly,” Black said. “That was 12 years ago, now I’m a full time comic and she’s my wife. I did it as a way to impress her. This would make me look different, look special.”
The method he used to woo the substitute teacher and future wife ended up becoming the method for his success.
“After five years, I was making more money doing stand up than I was teaching,” Black said. “So I said I’m going to try this full time. I became pretty popular on the college circuit. I signed a contract to do 60 colleges. Two weeks after I left to do stand up, my wife was two weeks pregnant.”
Black said if it had been the other way around with his wife’s pregnancy, he wouldn’t have taken the full time comic contract.
“Timing was on my side,” Black said.
According to Black, his spring to national popularity wasn’t marked by one particular event.
“It’s one thing leads to another. Once word gets out that you’re popular on the college circuit, clubs are more willing to take a look at you. If you’re able to work Atlantic City, then Vegas goes ‘maybe you can work Vegas, too,” Black said.
According to Black, when he went to clubs he hadn’t done on his own before, and they saw him with Nealon, they gave him a shot on his own.
“I love stand up more than almost anything,” Black said. “So long as I can make a living doing it from here, I will.”
Black is not just committed to his hometown, but his family as well.
“The Indian Spring show is a rare treat,” Black said.
He went on to explain that of the average 30 days in a month, he spends 10–14 days away, but he has learned to balance his time.
“When I’m home, I’m home, when I’m away I stay involved,” Black said. “It was easier without kids. Travel puts a strain on them.”
His son is 6 and loves getting in front of people, Black said. He brings him to shows and lets him throw out a few jokes for the crowd.
Black’s time management and focus on family has benefited him in his personal life.
“Last March, my dad went with me to Pittsburgh,” Black said. “He had never been on the road with him before. That road trip was two days.”
Shortly after that, his father passed away, and Black said he cherishes that time he had with his father.
“He’s really a good dude,” Black said.
