Keith Price: Keep Daring To Dream!

Bambi Weavil: Hey darling! I became aware of you and your work a year and a half ago when I tuned into Sirius OutQ and became a friend of OutQ In The Morning with Larry Flick- tell our audience how you were given the opportunity to be on one of the hottest shows on Sirius Satellite Radio?

Keith Price: I was working locally at a hospital here in NYC and running a weekly comedy show called the STARLIGHT REVUE. During that time, I met many comics who did interviews and all kinds of press, and one of those comics was a friend of the show’s producer at the time. He asked me to come with him, because it would be a great way to promote his appearance in my show and maybe make a connection. Well, Larry and I instantly hit it off. It was like meeting your partner in crime without having to spend time in Juvie Hall first. I then had a recurring gig on the morning show, where I would come back and promote the comedy venue and one of the comics that would be performing that night. I actually came in as a guest co-host a few times. Larry and I would gab about everything.

While working on my one man show, EBONY CHUNKY LOVE: Bitch Can’t Get a Date, the morning show went through some changes, and Larry was left to redesign the format. He knew how he wanted the show to sound, and he knew that he wanted to have a comic sidekick to bring humor to the dynamic of the room, but at the same time be able to know when the moment calls for seriousness. When the list of possibilities was made, he was adamant that I come in and at least audition. Actually, he called me one morning after the run of my show, and said “Gurl, get your behind down here and audition! ”, and the rest is history. The coolest thing for me , his ultimate fight to have me on this show, has been a true blessing. It is the best testament to never knowing who you meet along your journey, and how they may change your life. Because of Larry’s efforts, I am now the first, out, African-American personalty in the satellite radio market.

BW: Another favorite of mine is the documentary based on your life, Ebony Chunky Love! How's that going?

KP: It has been an incredible journey, so far. The movie had a sold out premiere at the 2007 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, back in October. We were 1st Runner Up for the Audience Prize in Documentary. Once Lonnie, the director, and I learned how close we were to winning the prize, we realized quickly that you cannot be mad when your film about a comedian loses to a film about the gay and lesbian struggle in Israel, where people are just getting shot for being a part of the LGBT community. Laughter came in a close second place.

However, since then, we have continued to submit the film to as many festivals as we can. We recently learned that the film will be featured in the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival, March 26, 2008 in Amherst. Lonnie and I will be there to present the film. We are currently awaiting a finalized date from Roosevelt University in Chicago for their cultural awareness program in Spring 2008, and we are in negotiations with the fabulous PBS show, IN THE LIFE, for a feature story about the documentary. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

BW: What AIDS non-profits do you support? Have you performed AIDS related benefits?

KP: Being from Texas, the first AIDS group that I performed for was AIDS Services of Austin. I co-hosted a benefit. It was at this fabulous house with a huge yard. We hosted from a rooftop. It was very West Side Story. I remember singing Copa Cabana like 4 times.

After Hurricane Katrina, I found a place in Houston, near my hometown, that stepped up to the plate to help take care of those who were displaced AND HIV (+). So when I found out, I did a benefit show for them at STARLIGHT REVUE. It is now called Legacy Community Health Services, formerly the Montrose Clinic. I was so happy to hear who they were helping, because honestly, the media had us so focused on people being displaced with different circumstances, however no one ever really focused on the needs of the displaced people with HIV.

When I used to work at a hospital, I was a part of their theater group that raised funds for the hospital’s Pediatric and Teen HIV Program, as well as a few other charities. I got to live my secret dream as a musical theater artist and activist at the same time. Consequently, I also am a big cheerleader for Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS. I have had more magical theatrical moments and encounters thanks to that organization. I would love to host an event for them. Maybe they would let me be in some splashy musical opening number? I can only dare to keep dreaming.

BW: With our friends at Sirius OutQ, your show devotes a tremendous amount of time and energy for World AIDS Day, now for the second year. Have there been any particular stories that have touched your heart since you've been working in AIDS activism? What has surprised you the most?

KP: One of the most touching moment for me was meeting a 3 year old HIV(+) kid, Benji. While training to work in a pediatric hospital, I met this little ball of energy. He would have his mom push him up and down the halls, while he would ride his IV pole that had about six different medications hanging from it. He behaved like any kid his age, in spite of his condition. It made every concern and worry that I had about what was going wrong in my life seemed insignificant. If this kid could still find that joy with everything going on around him, then I can pull it together.

What still surprises me now are the people who really think that HIV is not an issue anymore. I am more amazed at the number of men who still insist on bare back sex. I am thrown by the silliness that some in our country are still trying to promote in terms of safe sex, because of that, we, as a nation, are still surprised at the increase in teen and youth HIV rates. I hate seeing the rise of HIV infection rate in the communities of people of color, for a myriad of reasons.

BW: What are other non-profits that you support?

KP: ASPCA, American Diabetes Association, Red Cross, Sylvia’s Place and Ruth Ellis Center, both organizations for homeless LGBT youth.

BW: How can people see you perform? What projects are you working on?

KP: Well they can hear me every morning on Out Q In The Morning with Larry Flick, 7am-11am, EST on Sirius channel 109 or at http://www.siriusoutq.com. Because the show takes up a nice chunk of my time here in New York, I have been doing fewer dates outside of the area. I am currently working on the continuing saga for Ebony Chunky Love: Bitch Can’t Get a Date!, because I still don’t have one. Lonnie and I plan to get the film in as many festivals as we can, and then try to get it distributed.

BW: We are big supporters of you and your work and are very proud of you my friend. Everyone can see more on Keith Price at his MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/comedydaddy and Ebony Chunky Love's MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/ebonychunkylove!




	Keith Price: Keep Daring To Dream! Bambi Weavil: Hey darling! I became aware of you and your work a year and a half ago when I tuned into Sirius OutQ and became a friend of OutQ In The Morning with Larry Flick- tell our audience how you were given the opportunity to be on one of the hottest shows on Sirius Satellite Radio? Keith Price: I was working locally at a hospital here in NYC and running a weekly comedy show called the STARLIGHT REVUE. During that time, I met many comics who did interviews and all kinds of press, and one of those comics was a friend of the show’s producer at the time. He asked me to come with him, because it would be a great way to promote his appearance in my show and maybe make a connection. Well, Larry and I instantly hit it off. It was like meeting your partner in crime without having to spend time in Juvie Hall first. I then had a recurring gig on the morning show, where I would come back and promote the comedy venue and one of the comics that would be performing that night. I actually came in as a guest co-host a few times. Larry and I would gab about everything. While working on my one man show, EBONY CHUNKY LOVE: Bitch Can’t Get a Date, the morning show went through some changes, and Larry was left to redesign the format. He knew how he wanted the show to sound, and he knew that he wanted to have a comic sidekick to bring humor to the dynamic of the room, but at the same time be able to know when the moment calls for seriousness. When the list of possibilities was made, he was adamant that I come in and at least audition. Actually, he called me one morning after the run of my show, and said “Gurl, get your behind down here and audition! ”, and the rest is history. The coolest thing for me , his ultimate fight to have me on this show, has been a true blessing. It is the best testament to never knowing who you meet along your journey, and how they may change your life. Because of Larry’s efforts, I am now the first, out, African-American personalty in the satellite radio market. BW: Another favorite of mine is the documentary based on your life, Ebony Chunky Love! How's that going? KP: It has been an incredible journey, so far. The movie had a sold out premiere at the 2007 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, back in October. We were 1st Runner Up for the Audience Prize in Documentary. Once Lonnie, the director, and I learned how close we were to winning the prize, we realized quickly that you cannot be mad when your film about a comedian loses to a film about the gay and lesbian struggle in Israel, where people are just getting shot for being a part of the LGBT community. Laughter came in a close second place. However, since then, we have continued to submit the film to as many festivals as we can. We recently learned that the film will be featured in the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival, March 26, 2008 in Amherst. Lonnie and I will be there to present the film. We are currently awaiting a finalized date from Roosevelt University in Chicago for their cultural awareness program in Spring 2008, and we are in negotiations with the fabulous PBS show, IN THE LIFE, for a feature story about the documentary. Keep your fingers crossed for us! BW: What AIDS non-profits do you support? Have you performed AIDS related benefits? KP: Being from Texas, the first AIDS group that I performed for was AIDS Services of Austin. I co-hosted a benefit. It was at this fabulous house with a huge yard. We hosted from a rooftop. It was very West Side Story. I remember singing Copa Cabana like 4 times. After Hurricane Katrina, I found a place in Houston, near my hometown, that stepped up to the plate to help take care of those who were displaced AND HIV (+). So when I found out, I did a benefit show for them at STARLIGHT REVUE. It is now called Legacy Community Health Services, formerly the Montrose Clinic. I was so happy to hear who they were helping, because honestly, the media had us so focused on people being displaced with different circumstances, however no one ever really focused on the needs of the displaced people with HIV. When I used to work at a hospital, I was a part of their theater group that raised funds for the hospital’s Pediatric and Teen HIV Program, as well as a few other charities. I got to live my secret dream as a musical theater artist and activist at the same time. Consequently, I also am a big cheerleader for Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS. I have had more magical theatrical moments and encounters thanks to that organization. I would love to host an event for them. Maybe they would let me be in some splashy musical opening number? I can only dare to keep dreaming. BW: With our friends at Sirius OutQ, your show devotes a tremendous amount of time and energy for World AIDS Day, now for the second year. Have there been any particular stories that have touched your heart since you've been working in AIDS activism? What has surprised you the most? KP: One of the most touching moment for me was meeting a 3 year old HIV(+) kid, Benji. While training to work in a pediatric hospital, I met this little ball of energy. He would have his mom push him up and down the halls, while he would ride his IV pole that had about six different medications hanging from it. He behaved like any kid his age, in spite of his condition. It made every concern and worry that I had about what was going wrong in my life seemed insignificant. If this kid could still find that joy with everything going on around him, then I can pull it together. What still surprises me now are the people who really think that HIV is not an issue anymore. I am more amazed at the number of men who still insist on bare back sex. I am thrown by the silliness that some in our country are still trying to promote in terms of safe sex, because of that, we, as a nation, are still surprised at the increase in teen and youth HIV rates. I hate seeing the rise of HIV infection rate in the communities of people of color, for a myriad of reasons. BW: What are other non-profits that you support? KP: ASPCA, American Diabetes Association, Red Cross, Sylvia’s Place and Ruth Ellis Center, both organizations for homeless LGBT youth. BW: How can people see you perform? What projects are you working on? KP: Well they can hear me every morning on Out Q In The Morning with Larry Flick, 7am-11am, EST on Sirius channel 109 or at http://www.siriusoutq.com. Because the show takes up a nice chunk of my time here in New York, I have been doing fewer dates outside of the area. I am currently working on the continuing saga for *Ebony Chunky Love: Bitch Can’t Get a Date!, because I still don’t have one. Lonnie and I plan to get the film in as many festivals as we can, and then try to get it distributed. BW: We are big supporters of you and your work and are very proud of you my friend. Everyone can see more on Keith Price at his MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/comedydaddy and Ebony Chunky Love*'s MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/ebonychunkylove!			Meet Dillon, our special friend affected by HIV Ashley Judd, Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS YouthAIDS Global Ambassador, Ashley Judd's Asia Diary * Every day, 14,000 people contract HIV * 40.3 million people now live with HIV * AIDS kills one child every minute Featured Performer Raising Awareness for AIDS: Annie Lennox The Concept Behind "Sing": More Videos Please purchase "Sing" by clicking here Annie's Call to Action: More Videos Please purchase "Sing" by clicking here

	In Loving Memory - Some of Those We Lost to AIDS: Steven Bates, Bob Bendorff, Doug Boar, Joey Brunneti, Jay Burwick, Ray Coe, Keith Dodge, Doug Ermet, Gary Falardeau, Mark Fotopoulos, Jim Franks, Bill Graham, Jeffrey Grover, Jim Hankins, Frank Harper, Mike Hendricks, Frank Jackson, Jay Jackson, Pat London, Terence Maguire, John McLeod, Terry Peterson, Ron Pierson, Mark Pritchett, Steve Prokasky, John Richmond, Bill Robles, Steve Roher, Kenny Sasha, Jack Simmons, Randy Smith, Ted Smith, Jeffery Vogt...