Sinbad is able to take your painful trials or embarrassing tribulations of day-by-day life, throw them back in your face, and make you laugh at them. He can make it happen without being profane. Not that he's any kind of choirboy, but being the son of a preacher man he decided to keep his comedy clean after his father attended one of his early performances. Up to that time he had been "semi-dirty." Sinbad says that he learned that night that "funny is funny" and that masters of dirty comedy such as Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce could all work clean when necessary, and not lose a step.
Sinbad is internationally known for his starring appearances in hit movies like "Jingle All the Way," playing opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger; "Houseguest" co-starring the late Phil Hartman and let's not forget his film debut, "Necessary Roughness" where he did none of his own stunts! He has starred in the televisions sitcom "A Different World" as well as his own series, "The Sinbad Show." Entertainment mogul Quincy Jones sought out Sinbad to host the UPN's networks first late night talk show, "Vibe." Sinbad has even written a self-help book entitled Sinbad's Guide to Life: (Because I Know Everything). Sinbad has drawn legions of fans from his HBO highly rated comedy specials; "Brain Damaged" (1991), "Afros & Bellbottoms" (1993), "Son of a Preacher Man" (1996), and "Nuthin But The Funk" (1998). His annual HBO music concert series (Oh! You didn't know he was musical?) "Sinbad's 70's Soul Music Festival" received the prestigious NAACP Image Award consecutively for two years as the "Most Outstanding Variety Series/Special."
A one-time basketball standout for the University of Denver, Sinbad agrees that everything he needed to know for comedy, he learned from playing basketball. There are a number of things comedy and basketball have in common but mainly, "there is the competitive aspect that teaches you to never give up," says Sinbad.
There is one part of Sinbad's life that has been a well kept secret…he is a closet nerd. Sinbad believes no one should be left behind in training and education. He has served as a spokesperson for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) encouraging minorities to pursue studies in science, math and engineering. In honor of his parents', Donald & Louise Adkins, Sinbad has established a academic scholarship in their name at an esteemed HBCU (Historically Black College/University), Morehouse.
The 2008-2009 Paramount Theatre season is sponsored by the Paramount Arts Centre Endowment, American Airlines and The Beacon News/Sun Publications. This season is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Sinbad is sponsored by Old Second National Bank.
Sinbad comes to the Paramount Theatre on Friday, October 24th at 8 p.m. The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E Galena Blvd in Aurora, IL. Tickets are $27.50, $42.50 and $47.50 and can be purchased at the Paramount Theatre Box Office, by phone at 630-896-6666 or at any TicketMaster ticket outlet. For more information, visit the Paramount Theatre online at www.theparamounttheatre.com.
