Comedian. Television host. Movie Star. Top-rated syndicated Radio Personality. Father of 6. For over 20 years. Rickey Smiley is one of the most beloved performers in American media, earning a reputation for delivering boundless laughter on-air, on-stage, and on-screen. Every morning, millions of Americans in nearly 60 cities listen to Rickey Smiley and his 6 outrageous cast members on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show.” His interviews with major celebrities, social political awareness and trademark prank phone calls have made Smiley one of the most listened to radio personalities in history. Rickey Smiley’s down home southern humor, opting to use insight rather than vulgarity to get laughs, is at the core of his success. His audiences are treated to such original characters as “Mrs. Bernice Jenkins”, “Lil’ Darrl,” “Joe Willie” and “Beauford.” Smiley is known for his clean comedic style and his reputation to sell out venues across the country. To movie audiences, Smiley is best known for “All About The Benjamins” and “Friday After Next”. He’s recorded 8 best selling CDs including iTunes #1 Best Selling Comedy Album, “Rickey Smiley- Prank Calls Number 6”. On television he”s hosted BET’s “Open Casket Sharp” and “Comic View”, appeared on “Showtime At The Apollo,” “Uptown Comedy Club”, HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam”and “Snaps”. Smiley graduated from Alabama State University, became KBFB’s (Dallas) morning show personality in 2004, and soon moved his show to WHTA Atlanta. When not performing, Smiley is the ultimate devoted father, single-handedly raising 6 kids, the subject of a soon to be released parenting book. QUOTE: “Success is when preparation meets opportunity” @thersms
Leonard “Hub” Hubbard, longtime member and bassist of the Hip-Hop band, The Roots passed away on Thursday at the age of 62.
“It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to our brother Leonard Nelson Hubbard,” said in a statement posted to Twitter. “May your transition bring peace to your family to your friends to your fans and all of those who loved you.”
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His wife, Stephanie Hubbard told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he was living with blood cancer for years. She said that he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in 2007 and had been in remission until last month. She shared that she had taken her husband to the Lankenau Medical Center in West Philadelphia, on “Wednesday night after he was suddenly unable to move despite being energetic the day before.”
She was unable to stay with him due to COVID-19 regulations in the hospital and received the news that he passed the next day.
“I was called to the hospital. They told me what had happened, that he had passed. I went to the hospital and was able to sit with him,” she said.
Hubbard started with the group in 1993 and recorded seven albums before departing in 2007 after being diagnosed with cancer.