Jeff Foxworthy is not some overnight success story. Before starring on The Jeff Foxworthy Show for two seasons, releasing many best-selling CDs and books and selling out major theaters, Foxworthy was practically on a first-name basis with every Holiday Inn manager in the country. Years of relentless touring-mastering the art of sleeping while standing, and waking up at the crack of dawn to do morning radio and television interviews-have helped mold Jeff into one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country.
If Jeff's track record as a recording artist is any indication of his success, then there's no reason to think that Jeff's new CD, Totally Committed, won't be anything but huge. In stores on May 19, Totally Committed is Jeff's fourth CD and will mark a new direction in his life and material. The debut single and video of the same name premiered in mid-April. Making cameo appearances in the video are Atlanta Braves pitchers Greg Maddux and John Smoltz.
Next on Foxworthy's calendar will be a one-hour HBO stand-up special which was taped in February. Also titled Totally Committed, the special premieres on May 16. Attesting to the strong fan base and support which he has garnered over the years, Jeff is involved with the creation and launch of a chain of theme restaurants. Jeff Foxworthy's Backyard Bar-B-Q opened its first restaurant in Kissimee, Florida in late March. Some tasty items on the menu include Fried Catfish Filet, the Sloppy Jeff Sandwich and, of course, ribs-and lots of 'em. Plans call for additional restaurants to open in other locations later this year, including Asheville, North Carolina and Hilton Head, South Carolina.
To date, Jeff's previous three comedy recordings have tallied sales of over eight million units making him the biggest selling comedy recording artist in history. His first CD, You Might Be A Redneck If... (Warner Bros./1994) has been certified triple platinum (three million units sold), the only time a comedy CD has achieved this mark. The tremendous reaction to this CD resulted in both a music video and a single entitled "Redneck Stomp." His July 1995 release, Games Rednecks Play, was certified platinum in a mere five weeks; it went on to receive a 1996 Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album, and is now double platinum.
Crank It Up: The Music Album, also nearing platinum status, was released in Fall of 1996 and contains the hit single and video "Party All Night" featuring Little Texas. The second single, "Games Rednecks Play," with country star Alan Jackson, was nominated for a 1997 Grammy nomination for Best Vocal Collaboration and was Jeff's salute to his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia being the host city of 1996's Summer Olympic Games. A regular on such shows as The Tonight Show and The Late Show with David Letterman, Jeff also has two Showtime stand-up specials to his credit. With critical acclaim and rave reviews from the first special, Jeff landed his second Showtime special, which earned a CableACE Award nomination. Jeff has also been bestowed with a People's Choice Award as Favorite Male Newcomer for The Jeff Foxworthy Show and has won TNN's Comedian of the Year three years running.
Jeff is also the author of nine best-selling books. His first four books explore the phenomenon of the redneck: You Might Be A Redneck If... (now in its 30th printing), Red Ain't Dead, Hick Is Chick...A Guide To Etiquette For The (Grossly) Unsophisticated and Check Your Neck. Jeff's fifth book, You're Not A Kid Anymore..., was a departure from his previous books as it poignantly and comically looks at the tell-tales signs of getting older. His 1995 book Games Rednecks Play offered a humorous preview of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, since Atlanta was the site of the Olympics. 1995 brought Redneck Classics, a best-of compilation of his earlier writing efforts. His 1996 book, entitled Those People, is filled with humorous drawings from Jeff's observations of his fellow man from many years of being out on the comedy club circuit. Jeff's other 1996 publishing effort, No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem! spent over two months on The New York Times Bestsellers List and has sold more than 600,000 copies in hardcover and paperback. This book was more autobiographical than his previous works, tracing his formative years while growing up in Atlanta with amusing, albeit bewildering stories, from the Foxworthy household. As Jeff says, "It's a book for the library instead of the back of the toilet."
The Foxworthy Down Home Cookbook was published last November and includes recipes from Jeff and his father, Big Jim. To date, Jeff has sold over 3.8 million copies of his various books and over 1.5 million copies of his annual calendars. It's hard to believe that 14 years ago Jeff was about to quit his $30,000-a-year job to work the comedy club circuit so he could make a whopping $20 a night in smoky comedy clubs. In no time at all, Jeff began winning several national and regional comedy contests, developing a loyal fan base. Those first six or seven years, Jeff paid his dues by working 48 weeks a year on the road. The end result of his hard work had Foxworthy capturing the award for Best Stand-Up Comic at the 1990 American Comedy Awards. Jeff went on to open for the likes of Garth Brooks, Jay Leno, The Judds, Eddie Rabbit and Wynton Marsalis.
Away from the stage, an interest Jeff holds near and dear is the Duke University Children's Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which specializes in treating children with cancer. Jeff is the Honorary Chairman of the Duke Children's Classic Golf Tournament. With his help, last year alone, the hospital raised over $900,000. Jeff's goal this year is to surpass the $1 million mark. The Duke's Children's Classic will be taking place the weekend of May 29, 1998, in Durham.
This Atlanta, Georgia native remains true to his Southern roots and resides with his wife and two daughters in Georgia. What else would you expect from someone who's Totally Committed?
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