Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Of course, NBC couldn't help but ratchet up the geek/freak quotient, but, hey, that's reality television for you. You gotta give the people what you've conditioned them to expect, after all!
Ant didn't come off nearly as bitchy as we were told he was in reality. He was positively serene. (We loved Madigan's slam when Ant got itchy and tried to ditch an auditioner just a little too quickly-- "Your hair's on! You're sitting down, c'mon!")
But we still have trouble with Ant being a judge, a talent scout, whatever they call them. San Antonio auditioner J.R. Brow got in a nice dig when Ant told him, "We'd love to have you come back tonight and bomb." Brow replied, "Okay. I'll do your stuff." Bang! Zoom! Right back at you, segmented one! - Shecky magazine
Discography
JR Brow Comedy CD 2004
Photos
Bio
JR Brow never wanted to be a fireman. He never wanted to be a dentist or a doctor. He didn't have a name for what he wanted to do, but Brow wanted to make people laugh. His journey began after he saw how guys like George Carlin, Steve Martin, and Bill Cosby made it look effortless on television.
It was in high school where Brow began showcasing his penchant for performing. As a sophomore, he formed a rock band. Calling themselves "Renegade," they covered 70's and 80's hits, with Brow as the front man and lead singer. Often times, the band was so unorganized that Brow found time between songs to improvise, keeping the weary audience's attention. After a meager performance at the school's talent show, Renegade disbanded, and Brow went into a three-month hiatus. When he emerged it was with another band. They were hard rockers. They had better musicians. And, they were seniors, for crying out loud.
Music aside, Brow was developing a knack for handling restless crowds, no thanks to the band. "Metal fans are a rowdy group, and if there were technical problems between songs, I'd be there up front doing or saying anything to keep their attention, mostly so they wouldn't start pelting me with stuff." After working with a few punk bands and one professional metal band during college, Brow was ready to leave the scene behind. "I was growing tired of sharing one paycheck with four other guys," he says.
Five years passed while Brow quietly settled back into a real daytime job. Then in 1989 he got the itch to perform again. This time, he would try stand up at a tiny hole-in-the-wall club in downtown Austin. Notorious for being a tough room, the Velveeta Room, formerly a strip club, seems an unlikely setting for comedy, but 15 years-strong, it's still one of the most talked about and revered clubs in the country.
"I'm proud of my Velveeta roots. Performing comedy on stage with a stripper's pole right in front of you sort of sets the tone for comedy. I used to offer ten dollar table jokes to the crowd."
If practice makes perfect, then Brow is nearing the mark. Since his first time on stage in 1989, he has gone on to finalize in the San Francisco Int'l Comedy Competition. He was picked out of 2,000 comedians to perform in Aspen, at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, hosted by HBO. His first television appearance on NBC's "Comedy Showcase", hosted by Louie Anderson, resulted from a stellar performance in front of industry executives.
Currently JR continues to make waves across the country as a top-notch performer. And while in non-stop demand from comedy clubs, nationwide, he is also much in demand in the corporate world. Austin Regional Nike executives loved his show. Companies such as Anheuser-Busch, Kraft, the San Antonio Spurs, and members of the Dallas Cowboys think he's a hoot. Executives for D.R. Horton already want him back for next year�s award ceremony. And they're a Fortune 500 Company, for crying out loud.
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