During a recent interview with the uber-popular Art of Dialogue, Def Comedy Jam co-founder Bob Sumner reveals the truth about Def Comedy Jam and details stories about iconic comedians.
While serving as a label executive for Def Jam Records, Sumner created with company co-founder Russell Simmons the now legendary HBO’s hit series “Def Comedy Jam” in 1990.
For the next 20 plus years, Sumner worked behind the scenes recruiting the best then-unrecognized comedians in the world for the cable TV series.
During his last two years working on “Def Comedy Jam,” Sumner partnered with entertainment executive Arthur Spivak and launched Laff Mobb Enterprises, LLC. Sumner also served as Executive Producer on truTV’s comedy series, “Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks,” featuring some of the newest class of comedy icons.
In addition, Sumner launched two platforms spotlighting today’s comedians on a monthly basis – the Apollo Comedy Club (with the Apollo Theater) and the New Jersey-based Jazz & Jokes series – the latter mixing the top musical art form created by Black Americans here in the states with the works of rising comedians from across the country.
