Sam Kinison

Play Radio

119,459 plays (20,098 listeners)

Shop now at Amazon | Send Sam Kinison Ringtones to Cell
Buy
Add to my Library
Samuel “Sam” Burl Kinison (December 8, 1953 – April 10, 1992) was an American comedian and actor. He was famous for his humor and wild, colorful outfits. A former revival-style preacher, his standup routines were most often characterized by intense, angry ranting punctuated by a trademark primal scream.

Kinison was born in Yakima, Washington, and originally became a preacher. Upon obtaining a divorce from his wife, he was forced to leave preaching. However, his background as a preacher proved to be highly influential upon his new career as a . This was particularly evident in the near-fire and brimstone style of screaming used in his routines. Shortly before his death he took to the pulpit one last time.

Kinison’s appearance on Late Night with David Letterman on November 14, 1985 is widely considered to be his breakthrough performance. Letterman’s introduction of Kinison would prove to be prescient: “Brace yourselves. I’m not kidding. Sam Kinison.”

Kinison might be considered a “ comedian” since he occasionally was accompanied by a touring band, as well as having a prodigious appetite for drugs and alcohol. In 1988, he had a hit song with his novelty version of the troggs’ “Wild Thing.” The video for his version of “Wild Thing” played like a who’s who of rock artists, from bad boy Billy Idol, and rock guitar god Steve Vai, to guitar god Frank Zappa’s son Dweezil Zappa, and a raunchy “roll on the mat” dance with Jessica Hahn.
Share this artist:

Top Albums

See more

Top Tracks

1
33
2  
18
3
15
4
14
5
13
5
13
7
12
8
11
8
11
10
10
10
10
10
10
13
9
14
8
14
8
Buy all tracks at Amazon MP3
See more

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).
  • Re-Kramer

    20 years today, still sad but he's still 1 of the best [2]

    April 2012
  • MrMooGert

    20 years today, still sad but he's still 1 of the best

    April 2012
  • KrassEstranged

    Nah, no one can touch Hedberg in terms of delivery, Sammy is up there though.

    November 2011
  • IndustrialHz

    this guy has the best delivery i've ever heard

    March 2011
  • FozBuoy

    yeah, no shit. it's from The Sounds of Kinison song parody.

    February 2011
  • FozBuoy

    goodbye Kinison my old friend

    January 2011
  • Sass2

    Pure classic.

    December 2010
  • KrassEstranged

    OHHHH OOHOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

    December 2010
See all 25 shouts

Top Listeners

See more

More Information

Links
Labels