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Straight From The Mouth
The Morning Mouth's September Interview with Russ Parr
(Reprinted by permission; Copyright © 2006 Talentmasters Inc.)

Bio
Actually, the first time I thought about getting into radio was when I sat down to consider my options. I could either continue to pimp or deal rock on street corners... It wasn't really rock. like you think, it was igneous rock. And it was very hard to smoke. And then of course I got into hustling Tupperware.

The first time you knew I was funny was when I was in a gay bar. I was appalled by it. And I said to myself, man I've got to get out of here. And after about the 4th or 5th slow dance I realized..

Best advice I ever got
J.J. Johnson: stop asking people what they think of you. They will tell you. So I quit asking.

The main reason people listen to my show
I think I have comedy. We just do it all. It's not just one thing. We do a little bit of

everything.

Quickest way to make people laugh
Something that's improvisational. Something off the top of your head, topical, current, non-rehearsed. Pre-planned stuff just isn't my thing. It's boring and predictable.

People who make me laugh loudest
I love Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Steve Harvey is hilarious; Sheryl Underwood is a riot. These are people who make me cry laughing on a regular basis.

Urban radio: how it has changed since you entered?
It's changed a lot. You don't have to be urban to do hip-hop. You've got white guys who adopt the hip-hop culture, and it's more competition, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

When I'm in my car, I listen to...
Nothing! I don't listen to hardly any music. It's just not that compelling to me. I mean I'll listen to some new hip-hop tunes when they first come out. But after about the 3225th time I've heard it, it wears on me. Once new music is done, I'm done.

What I usually think about on the way to work
I don't like to think about anything on the way to work only because I want to use the first thought that comes to mind.

First thing you read each morning
Usually I go to the Internet; AOL, NBC, All Hip-Hop.com. This I where I usually go first.

Magazine(s) I read religiously
Sister to Sister. Jamie Foster Brown does a lot of the interviews there and she gets down and they like her. They tell her shit that they don't tell a lot of other magazines. I really think it's a great mag, so if you really want some real shit on black artists, this is a good place to go.

TV shows you won't miss
I like the Contender on ESPN. I

like Lucky Louie on HBO is f'n hillarious.Family Guy is hilarious too.

A movie I'll watch over and over again
A movie I wrote, directed and produced called The Last Dance. I watch it over and over again because I've got my money on the line.

Favorite munchie in the studio
Brownies from a guy name Vernon up the street. The show always gets so exciting after we eat them, I have no idea why.

Favorite charity
Make-A-Wish Foundation. I love that charity. I also deal with any charity that deals with domestic violence.

Someone you've interviewed, but probably won't again
R. Kelly. Kind of slapped him around when he was going through his problems. with Jay-Z. He just showed how un-intelligent he was. I felt sorry for him. Didn't realize he couldn't compete. So, I just backed off

Songs you like to sing in the shower
I like to sing show tunes in the shower. They bring out the masculine side to me.

Famous people I never quite bought into
Justin Timerberlake. Such a fraud, case said. Total fraud. Even Janet Jackson, fraud! "I'm so surprised all this is happening for me." Prearranged, you and Michael. You don't show up for award shows unless you're going to win. Wow, surprised you won? Stop acting like it.

People in the industry you need to thank
Steve Woods, died a couple of years ago. He was influential in naming a recording artist I turned out to be, Bobby Gimme... a character they used in broadcasting class. I'll never forget J.J. Johnson who at KDAY/Los Angeles taught me how to be disciplined. He was the ultimate pro. Then there was Jack Patterson. He took a chance on me. Ed Kirby, the GM at KDAY. Ken & Bob at KABC/LA. Frasier Smith at KLOS all gave me a chance to express myself.

Hey, you're in Washington D.C. As the next president, you'd like to see
Anyone that's going to bring our troops home and end this ridiculous war on terror. Terrorists don't have a country. Terror is all over the world. If we fight the world, we don't win... don't get me started, It will be a whole new interview.

Read previous Morning Mouth interviews.

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