Fancy Ray McCloney
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Fancy Ray McCloney is a stand-up comedian and advertising pitchman from
Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
. He is known for his flamboyant comic persona, once described as "gleefully narcissistic," blending elements of
Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Ar ...
,
Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...
,
James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is referred to by Honorific nick ...
,
Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...
, and a tent-revival preacher. He is known for producing and starring in low-budget TV ads for local businesses in the Twin Cities and markets across the U.S., including a
Taco Bell Taco Bell Corp. is an American multinational chain of fast food restaurants founded in 1962 by Glen Bell (1923–2010) in Downey, California. Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. The restaurants serve a variety of Mexican-inspired ...
ad aired during the 2016 Super Bowl that played off his status as a "local legend." Rarely breaking character on stage or off, Fancy Ray is a buoyantly self-aggrandizing, larger-than-life personality given to spontaneous poetry (about himself) and mock-boastful proclamations including his oft-repeated characteristic catchphrase "I'm the best-lookin’ man in comedy." In 2020, he released the career-retrospective stand-up album ''The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy'' on Stand Up! Records. Writer/producer Diablo Cody, who wrote the liner notes for the album, calls Fancy Ray a "subversive" and "bombastic character (who) looms large in the collective psyche of the Twin Cities ... a nontraditional, nonconformist guy" whose "shtick is almost like a spell."


Early life

The youngest of four boys from north Minneapolis, McCloney attended Central, Marshall-University and
West West is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some Romance langu ...
high schools, graduating from West. As a second-grader, Ray did a ventriloquist act with Rev. Billy Graham's traveling show. His nickname came from his grandfather, William M.L. "Fancy" Wade, a sharp-dressed ladies' man and professional athlete who also introduced McCloney to the music and style of Little Richard, a major influence.


Career


Stand-up comedy

McCloney's career began in 1984 when he won a lip-sync contest at Minneapolis' First Avenue nightclub impersonating Little Richard, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and James Brown. This led to spots on the nationally syndicated lip-sync TV show '' Puttin' on the Hits''. He began performing stand-up in 1989, performing locally and opening for
Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Known for reaching a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, he is widely regarded ...
, Little Richard and Chris Rock. Fancy Ray's comic persona includes a flamboyant sexual ambiguity and style of dress, and a theatrical mock-arrogance and vanity once described as "a cross between Little Richard and
Ethel Merman Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann; January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American singer and actress. Known for her distinctive, powerful voice, and her leading roles in musical theatre, musical theater,Obituary ''Variety Obitua ...
" and a "carefully crafted ... naughty alter ego with goofy, winking innocence" that gives him the "ability to soften life’s seedier edges with campy joie de vivre." His penchant for bombastic nicknames also includes "The Human Chocolate Orchid." He has sometimes been disparaged for merely being "famous for being famous," which he acknowledges with the joke "I'm like Paris iltonwith a pretty tan."


''Get Down With It''

Also in 1989, McCloney debuted a talk show, ''Get Down With It'', on local cable-access Minneapolis Television Network. The show cemented his status as a local celebrity in the Twin Cities, interviewing guests including Ron Jeremy,
Bootsy Collins William Earl "Bootsy" Collins (born October 26, 1951) is an American bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Rising to prominence with James Brown in the early 1970s before joining the Parliament-Funkadelic collective, Collins established himse ...
, Whoopi Goldberg, Al Green,
Bo Diddley Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist and singer who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy ...
, George Clinton, Carol Channing,
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, and
Gloria Steinem Gloria Marie Steinem ( ; born March 25, 1934) is an American journalist and social movement, social-political activist who emerged as a nationally recognized leader of second-wave feminism in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ...
. Though focusing on comedy, the show also had a serious side; McCloney interviewed white supremacists during the Los Angeles riots, as well as civil rights activist Spike Moss and (in his final interview)
HIV-positive The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of '' Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the im ...
Minneapolis City Council member
Brian Coyle Brian John Coyle (June 25, 1944 – August 23, 1991) was an American community leader, elected official, and gay activist. Coyle was one of the founders of the alternative newspaper '' Hundred Flowers''. He later became the first openly gay M ...
. A reviewer for the St. Cloud Times noted that despite his reputation for outrageous self-promotion, "Fancy Ray's true calling is as an interviewer. He's sensitive, prepared and interested in what other people have to say."


Television advertising

McCloney runs a one-man ad agency, Chocolate Orchid Productions, which produces, writes, edits and stars in television commercials for local businesses in the Twin Cities and other markets including San Jose; Phoenix; Memphis;
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...
; and
Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
. He also appeared in a Taco Bell ad aired during the 2016 Super Bowl that played off his status as a "local legend."


Political career

In 1998, he ran for governor of Minnesota on the third-party People's Champion ticket, stating that "the whole election was a joke so why not have me, a professional comedian?" Beyond novelty value, he also wanted to be a spokesman for issues affecting blacks and poor people. His running mate was his mother, Toni McCloney. He received 919 votes, losing to
Jesse Ventura Jesse Ventura (born James George Janos; July 15, 1951) is an American politician, political commentator, actor, media personality, and retired professional wrestler. After achieving fame in the WWE, World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), he ...
.


''The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy''

On March 27, 2020, McCloney released ''The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy'', on Stand Up! Records. Originally recorded in 2014, the album features highlights from 30 years of his comedy career and liner notes by Diablo Cody. The mayors of both Minneapolis and St. Paul officially proclaimed the date "Fancy Ray McCloney Day" in his honor. McCloney was also named grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Minneapolis, though the parade was canceled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.


Other appearances

Fancy Ray has appeared on a number of nationwide talk shows and reality series, including ''
The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has been broadcast on NBC since 1954. The program has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2 ...
'', ''
America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is an American talent show competition, and is part of the global ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (as well as distributed by) and ...
'', ''
Last Comic Standing ''Last Comic Standing'' is an American reality television talent competition show on NBC that aired from June 1, 2003, to August 9, 2010, and again in 2014 and 2015. Each season a comedian from an initially large group of hopefuls was picked as ...
'', ''
Entertainment Tonight ''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American Broadcast syndication, first-run syndicated news broadcasting news magazine, newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Par ...
'', '' The Maury Povich Show'', and '' The Jenny Jones Show''. He moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to establish a Hollywood career, but returned to the Twin Cities in 2008. McCloney appeared in the 2008 direct-to-video comedy ''The Junkyard Willie Movie: Lost In Transit'' as "Crazy Revival Preacher." He contributed guest vocals to the 2003 song "Parrots" by indie-rock band
Hymie's Basement Hymie's Basement is an American indie rock duo. It consists of Yoni Wolf and Andrew Broder of Fog (band), Fog. They released one album, ''Hymie's Basement (album), Hymie's Basement'', on Lex Records in 2003. The name ''Hymies Basement'' came from ...
, and stars in a promotional video for Sleeping in the Aviary's 2010 album ''You and Me, Ghost'', described by the
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as "a tongue-in-cheek homage to all those late night advertisements you’ve probably fallen asleep to once or twice." He was profiled in a 2019 segment of Twin Cities PBS' ''Minnesota Original''. His face appears on a mural painted on a building at 2933 E. Lake St. in Minneapolis. McCloney is an ordained minister in the
Universal Life Church The Universal Life Church (ULC) is an American non-denominational religious organization founded in 1962 by Kirby J. Hensley,James R. Lewis, The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions' (2001), p. 769-70.U.S. Department of the Army, ' ...
and has officiated many weddings.


Discography

*''The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy'' ( Stand Up! Records, 2020) *''Fancy Ray’s 20th Anniversary of Comedy'' (DVD, 2009)


Personal life

McCloney has a son, Trevon. He claims to be "ageless", and for decades has given his age as between 24 and 29.


References


External links


Official Fancy Ray McCloney website
*
Fancy Ray McCloney at Stand Up! Records websiteMinnesota Original segment on Fancy RayFancy Ray YouTube Channel''Get Down With It'' Best of 1991Nicollet Village Video advertisement starring Fancy RayFancy Ray as Screamin' Jay Hawkins on Puttin' On the HitsFancy Ray's 20th Anniversary of Comedy TV SpecialFancy Ray on America's Got Talent in 2008
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ray, Fancy 20th-century American comedians 21st-century American comedians African-American male comedians African-American comedians American male comedians American stand-up comedians Comedians from Minneapolis Living people America's Got Talent contestants Year of birth missing (living people) Stand Up! Records artists Central High School (Minneapolis, Minnesota) alumni 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people