Bad Boys Bio

The seemingly overnight success of Boston's brightest new star Jonathon Gates has been anything but instant. Performing everywhere from Chinese restaurants to sold-out audiences at Boston's historic Symphony Hall, and concert halls around the world. Jonathon's diverse and dedicated following was has been over twenty years in the making.

He lives in the Boston area. He was raised in on a farm in South Carolina in the winters and in the streets of Boston in the Summers. The best of both worlds if you asked me..

As humorous as one of his routine is the story of what drew him to comedy. A regular emcee of local events, his first comedy break came in 1987 with Dick Doherty's comedy troop at The Rolls Club in Boston. The show's host called in sick and Jonathan was asked to step in. He stole the show with his commanding performance and stage presence and was asked to return. For the following two months, during the day, Jonathan began studying comedy greats such as Red Foxx, Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Wild Man Steve. His goal was not to be pegged as a black comedian, but a comedian that could transcend and entertain any group, regardless of age, color or creed. At night he kept hosting shows and performing to better himself. This is where he truly honed his craft.

By 1991 he had simply outgrown the confines of the Rolls Club. He kept making trips down to New York to work with some of Americans sharpest comedians. He was no longer a secret, and clubs around the country flooded his phone trying to secure a booking. It was at that time that Jonathon hit the road. He was blessed to open up for HBO DEF Comedy Jam road tour when the show came to Boston. From the point on it has been no looking back. While performing on tour with Martin Lawrence he said you are a bad boy. So at that point the stage name the Bad Boy of Comedy was born.

Jonathan went from a small time local comedian to a true professional. He has been on such shows as HBO DEF Comedy Jam to BET Comic View. he have traveled and performed from Atlanta to Amsterdam. He have been blessed to have worked with everyone in the comedy business. I have been on stage with some of today's Greats like Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac, DL Hughley, Dave Chapelle, Jamie Fox, Sommore, Mike Epps, Ricky Smiley, and the list goes on. He has been invited to host or perform other major black comedy tour of the last six years.

He has also opened for such musical great as, Luther Vandross, James Brown, Parliament Funkadelics, George Clinton, Prince, Jaheem, and Floetry to name a few. I am also a great host and emcee.

When he wasn't doing standup he was being hired to emcee shows for his favorite musicians. Truly a benefit of his newfound fame, he was invited to warm-up the audiences at concerts by The Delphonics, Millie Jackson, George Clinton, Parliament Funkadelics, Patti Labelle, Luther Vandross, James Brown, Prince, Jaheem, and Floetry to name a few and the list goes on.

When he returned to Boston, Jonathon took some well-deserved time off. He reflected on his experiences on the road, and began writing material about the changing cultural landscape of relationships, events, attitudes and the world around him in general. His material had gained an even sharper edge from his years on the road and his experiences with everything from club owners to obsessive fans.

In December of 1997, Bad Boy Productions entered negotiations with the Comedy Connection, the largest comedy Club in Boston to present a series of shows for Jonathon to showcase his new material. When word got out that talks were underway, the offices of Bad Boy was once again flooded with calls from the agents and managers of a who's-who in black comedy today asking if they could perform at his venue. Jonathon decided to create an entire Black Comedy experience. He envisioned a complete revue of famous comedians, R&B musicians, vocalists, and dancers. Without a doubt, everyone involved knew that there had been nothing like this done in Boston before and certainly nothing like it in such an intimate setting.

On February 6, 1998, the "Black Comedy Explosion" premiered at the Comedy Connection in Boston's Faneuil Hall.

Jonathon looks to the future, with his Comedy DVD, Titled Comically Different which will be recorded at the "Black Comedy Explosion." The "Bad Boy of Comedy" is still performing around the country and hoping to get his break. Until then he is content to travel and makes people fall off their chair from pure silliness and laughter.

Jonathon and his antics recently got him banned from radio station WILD AM 1090. My question to you is, how the hell can you get FIRED form a free job.

Stay Tuned for more excitement if the good Lord is willing

The Black Comedy Explosion, Bringing comedians of all statue to a venue near you