Jay Hickman was a comedian best known for his downhome humor and independently released, often-bawdy material. He had a cult following of fans who enjoyed his Southern-based jokes and stories. However, his life was cut short by a liver disease that he battled for years. Here is a look at his career, his legacy, and his cause of death.
Early Life and Career
Jay Hickman was born on April 19, 1955 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He started his career at the young age of 15 when he won a North Carolina state talent show, sponsored by the Women’s Club of America. Later, the great comedian Jackie Gleason saw him perform, and one of Gleason’s friends quickly hired the unknown comic to perform on cruise ships.
Hickman progressed to fame performing in strip clubs throughout the Southeastern United States. It is from those venues that he created and enjoyed a cult, underground following of fans who mainly owned his self-produced cassette tapes of those strip club performances. He also appeared on HBO, Showtime, and The Playboy Channel; performed on the Hee Haw television show; opened shows for comedians Jackie Gleason and Sammy Davis Jr.; and opened concerts for musical artists Tom Jones, Liza Minnelli, Tanya Tucker, Aretha Franklin, Mel Torme, Anita Baker, Lee Greenwood and George Jones.
Albums and Popular Material
Hickman released a total of seven albums through Laughing Hyena Records, the same label that discovered comedian Jeff Foxworthy. His albums were titled Boat Ride, Dangerous Dan, Dice Clay-Hickman, Hickman & Friends Live at the Comedy House Theatre, Hickman & Friends Live at the Comedy House Theatre II, Hickman & Friends Live at the Comedy House Theatre III, and Party in the Sky.
Some of his popular material included jokes about sex, drugs, alcohol, marriage, divorce, religion, politics, and Southern culture. He had a distinctive voice and delivery that made his jokes more memorable and hilarious. He often used profanity and vulgar language in his routines, which added to his appeal for some audiences but also limited his mainstream exposure.
Death and Legacy
Hickman was diagnosed with liver disease in the 1980s and died at 37 in 1993. According to Laughing Hyena Records’ website, Hickman flew his friends out to Myrtle Beach for some ‘guy time’ before he passed away. He did not have any living relatives or a funeral.
Hickman’s legacy of Southern-based humor still enjoys a cult following among his fans. His albums are still available through Laughing Hyena Records’ website. His jokes and stories are also shared online by his admirers. He is remembered as one of the funniest and most original comedians of his generation.
