Resplendent comedian Jonathan Slocumb’s career has taken a sudden and meteoric upward trajectory in recent years, becoming the go-to entertainer and emcee for a plethora of prestigious urban events. Called the ‘Couture Comic’ because of his proclivity for dapper attire onstage while inducing side-splitting laughs, Slocumb has commandeered the crème de la crème of African American national conferences and conventions including; the Essence Music Festival, the National Urban League, the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP conventions. So talented is the Atlanta native that Michael Jordan personally invited Slocumb to Las Vegas to host the premiere of Jordan’s Nike clothing line, The Jordan Brand.
Slocumb shared why he has suddenly become one of most in-demand African American comedians in the country, particularly for urban and family fare. – terry shropshire
Why do you believe that you are so sought after now?
“We all came in with Def Jam and we all went different places after that. I chose to keep my presentation clean and as some people say, ‘dignified’. When I first came out the box, I thought I had [to have] some kind of title to be accepted. So I coined the term the ‘Gospel Comedian’ because at the time I was doing a lot of church events and Gospel concerts. .. people are seeing … how diverse my abilities to both entertain and host events are.
So what is it about you that urban sophisticates relate to so well?
“I know that the timing is perfect for what I do right now … and Cosby is, for me, the godfather of all comedy. But more specifically he set a standard for how a black man can be successful, keeping it clean and catering to corporate and family situations.”
With you, people are seeing there is more than one type of black comedian.
“With President Obama [in office] and people wanting to hear change and the demand for me has heightened. Now people can see the full section of what we have to offer, both in entertainment and in business. … I’ve had some comedians come up to and say ‘how did they pick YOU for that job?!’ and they always say it like that — ‘You?’ As in I can’t really do the job. But the fact is, I’m not new at it, and it took a while for people to receive me as someone who is not going to be churchy or preachy.”
