Fancy Ray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fancy Ray McCloney
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McCloney in 2018
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Ray McCloney
Claims to be "ageless" or 29 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Occupation | Stand-up comedian, advertising pitchman and producer |
| Years active | 1989–present |
Fancy Ray McCloney is a funny stand-up comedian and a person who creates and stars in TV ads. He is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. People know him for his exciting and unique style. He acts like a mix of famous performers such as Little Richard, Muhammad Ali, James Brown, and Prince. He also sounds a bit like a lively preacher.
Fancy Ray is famous for making simple TV commercials for local businesses. These ads are shown in cities like Minneapolis and other places across the U.S. He even appeared in a Taco Bell ad during the 2016 Super Bowl. This ad showed him as a "local legend." Fancy Ray almost always stays in character, whether he is on stage or not. He is a very confident and big personality. He often makes up poems about himself and proudly says, "I'm the best-lookin’ man in comedy."
In 2020, he released a comedy album called The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy. It featured highlights from his long career. A writer named Diablo Cody wrote about the album. She called Fancy Ray a "subversive" and "bombastic character." She said he is a "nontraditional, nonconformist guy" whose act is "almost like a spell."
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Early life and influences
Ray McCloney grew up in north Minneapolis. He was the youngest of four boys. He went to several high schools, including Central, Marshall-University, and West, where he graduated. When he was in second grade, Ray performed a ventriloquist act. This was part of a traveling show by Rev. Billy Graham.
His special nickname, "Fancy," came from his grandfather, William M.L. "Fancy" Wade. His grandfather was a very stylish man and a professional athlete. He also introduced young Ray to the music and fashion of Little Richard. Little Richard became a big influence on Fancy Ray's own style.
Comedy career
Starting out in stand-up
Fancy Ray's career began in 1984. He won a lip-sync contest at the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis. He pretended to be Little Richard, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and James Brown. This win led him to appear on a national TV show called Puttin' on the Hits.
He started doing stand-up comedy in 1989. He performed in his local area and opened shows for famous comedians and musicians. These included Richard Pryor, Little Richard, and Chris Rock. Fancy Ray's comedy style is very theatrical and confident. He often acts a bit vain and arrogant in a funny way. People have described his style as a mix of Little Richard and Ethel Merman. He has also been called "The Human Chocolate Orchid."
His own talk show
Also in 1989, Fancy Ray started his own talk show. It was called Get Down With It. The show was on a local cable TV channel in Minneapolis. This show helped him become even more famous in the Twin Cities area. He interviewed many interesting guests. Some of them were Whoopi Goldberg, Al Green, Bo Diddley, and Gloria Steinem.
Even though the show was mostly funny, it also covered serious topics. Fancy Ray interviewed civil rights activists. He also spoke with a city council member who was ill. A newspaper reviewer said that Fancy Ray was a great interviewer. They noted he was "sensitive, prepared and interested in what other people have to say."
Making TV commercials
Fancy Ray runs his own advertising company called Chocolate Orchid Productions. He writes, produces, edits, and stars in TV commercials. These ads are for local businesses in Minneapolis and St. Paul. He also makes ads for businesses in other cities like San Jose and Phoenix.
As mentioned, he appeared in a Taco Bell ad during the 2016 Super Bowl. This ad highlighted his fame as a "local legend" in the Twin Cities.
Running for governor
In 1998, Fancy Ray decided to run for governor of Minnesota. He ran with a third party called the People's Champion ticket. He joked that "the whole election was a joke so why not have me, a professional comedian?" But he also wanted to speak up for issues important to Black people and those who were struggling. His running mate was his own mother, Toni McCloney. He received 919 votes in the election. He lost to Jesse Ventura.
The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy album
On March 27, 2020, Fancy Ray McCloney released his comedy album. It was called The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy. The album was released by Stand Up! Records. The recordings for the album were originally made in 2014. It includes some of the best moments from his 30-year comedy career.
To celebrate the album, the mayors of both Minneapolis and St. Paul officially declared March 27, 2020, "Fancy Ray McCloney Day." Fancy Ray was also chosen to be the grand marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Minneapolis. However, the parade was canceled that year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other appearances and projects
Fancy Ray has appeared on many national TV shows. These include The Tonight Show, America's Got Talent, and Last Comic Standing. He moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to try to build a Hollywood career. But he returned to the Twin Cities in 2008.
He also appeared in a 2008 comedy movie called The Junkyard Willie Movie: Lost In Transit. In 2003, he provided guest vocals for a song called "Parrots" by the band Hymie's Basement. He also starred in a video for Sleeping in the Aviary's 2010 album. This video was a funny tribute to late-night TV commercials.
In 2019, a TV show called Minnesota Original on Twin Cities PBS featured him. You can also see his face on a mural painted on a building in Minneapolis.
Fancy Ray McCloney is also an ordained minister. This means he can perform weddings, and he has officiated many of them.
Discography
- The Best Lookin' Man in Comedy (Stand Up! Records, 2020)
- Fancy Ray’s 20th Anniversary of Comedy (DVD, 2009)
Personal life
Fancy Ray McCloney has a son named Trevon.
He often says he is "ageless." For many years, he has claimed his age is between 24 and 29.
