The Multi-Talented, Underrated and Very Sweet Rain Pryor

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rain Pryor.  That interview can be found at On the Beat With Rain Pryor.  I wasn't very experience with interviews then and I probably could have asked better questions, but I did have a lot of fun and this one is still one of my favorites.

Of course, as the daughter of the legendary Richard Pryor, Rain grew up around show business, but she carved her own career as a comedian and actress.  She gained a lot of exposure on tv's Head of the Class, but she also did other television projects, such as Rude Awakening.  Rain also did some great work on stage as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald in two separate productions.

When I saw she was scheduled to perform at a comedy club near me, I immediately contacted her about an interview.  To my delight, she accepted.

After enjoying her set on stage, I introduced myself and she immediately was very pleasant and talkative.  I was more caught up in the moment than actually prepared with some great questions, but I don't really care.  I had a lot of fun doing this.

A couple years later, I met Rain again at Wizard World and she remembered the interview.  We talked for several minutes and once again I walked away feeling good.

I don't profess to know Rain personally, but I just got a really warm feeling from her.  She seems like a genuinely nice person, who'd you'd love to have in your group.  She's naturally funny.  She's probably a lot funnier than people realize.  

It's experiences like this that really make me love what I do.  I was already a fan of hers, but I became an even bigger fan.

I highly recommend Jokes My Father Never Taught Me, a wonderful book written by Rain a few years back.  It's warm, loving and funny, but also honest and open.  You can also follow Rain Pryor Productions to get the latest news and thoughts fom Rain!

Rain Pryor and me in Alsip, IL-October 2011.

On the Beat with Rain Pryor

As I wrote earlier this week, last Friday, I enjoyed an evening of comedy featuring Marc Price at Riddles Comedy Club.  Marc wasn't the only comedian that night.  Rain Pryor also performed.  It was my first time seeing Rain in person and I walked away very impressed.
I could write pages on Rain's life and career, but you can find that info elsewhere, like on RainPryor.com.  She has such an impressive resume (actor, vocalist, author, comedian, producer and more).  She has had her battles in life, but has overcome them and is now a happy mother and wife.
While most of that is well known, I am here to tell you that she is one of the sweetest, coolest people I have met.  When I contacted Rain about talking to her at the show, she replied with "but of course I will".  It was a great start, but the best was actually seeing her perform and talking to her later.
She was hilarious, as she covered topics like motherhood.  She totally floored the crowd with her fantastically accurate and humorous impressions of her father (the late great Richard Pryor).
I introduced myself to Rain after the show and we went back into the show room to talk for a few minutes.  That chat is below.  She is so natural and funny.
After the interview, we talked for a few moments and I walked away feeling so good about the experience.  Rain just is so sweet and genuinely personable.  I left thinking she is truly beautiful in every sense of the word.
I interview a lot of people, most of whom I am already a fan.  I usually am happy about meeting and talking to my interview subjects.  With Rain, I felt all of that and I simply felt good about life.
If you get the chance, go see Rain perform.  You will absolutely love her and her show.  Until then, please go to RainPryor.com to learn all about this amazing woman.  Also, I just bought her book, Jokes My Father Never Taught Me: Life, Love and Loss with Richard Pryor.  I am looking forward to learning even more about Rain and I will let you know all about the book right here on a future day.