06/06/2007
I'm on vacation for a week Pt. 4: Reynaldo Rey
There's a vast world of underground, somewhat "blue" comedy LP's, and a whole lot of them (50's/60's vintage) came out on Laff Records, from Los Angeles.
Reynaldo Rey, seen overground on BET, the old Match Game, and in several movie and TV roles, made his name as a comedian in the ghetto comedy clubs in LA.
This is the only thing I've heard of his from that era; it's from a Laff compilation album called Funniest, Funkiest, Filthiest, that MR from the ATL turned me on to years ago. Reminiscent of rhyming African-American prison toasts - epic oral poetry that's one of rap's historical precedents - Rey tells the story of Simpson The Pimp from the point-of-view of Simpson, a court bailiff, and a judge. It's funny, it's funky, and it borders on filthy.
"Simpson is my name, and pimpin' is my game."