The origin of the term “standup” is murky. Still, the word most likely rose to prominence in the 1940s, when comedians working the stages of summer resorts in the Catskills introduced the format with which we are now intimately familiar. It’s an odd sort of entertainment—no narrative structure, plot, backstory, sets, editors, or producers exist to manage it. Its comedy boiled down to basics: a comedian and an audience, where you either score a laugh or don’t.
Standup comedy is a style that is ultimately quite simple. There is a comic, an audience, and nothing else. However, it is also quite different from how comedy has traditionally occurred. Before the evolution of standup comedy, comedy was typically delivered via the written word or through theatrical performances. Standup comedy was simple and raw.
In tracing the origins of standup comedy, you tend to go back to one specific aspect of history – minstrel shows. The origins of the genre are a bit unfortunate, as minstrel shows were incredibly racist. Performed throughout the United States, these types of shows began in the 1830s. Minstrel shows mainly featured musical acts but would also include other entertainment, such as dancing, skits, and something that resembled standup comedy.
Standup, at least in the form it is known today, is a fairly recent entertainment phenomenon. In the United States, where it developed first and reached its greatest popularity, it originated in comic lecturers, such as Mark Twain, who toured the country in the 19th century.
Now, in the 21st century, standup comedy has taken root around the world. Barry Humphries, from Australia, in the guise of Dame Edna Everage, gained reputable fame all around the country and became Australia’s most popular comedian.
Born in Blue Mound, Texas, on 21 May, 1966, and raised there too, William Lee Martin was always passionate about storytelling. At the age of just five, he started writing stories and songs. His devotion to the creative world increased with time, so he signed up as a drummer in his high school and college bands. He first decided to go to the University of Texas, Arlington, on a music scholarship, but a year later, he dropped out. He then chose to pursue an associate arts degree from Tarrant County Junior College.
To explore his talent for storytelling, he decided to start his career in advertising. He continued working as an advertiser for almost nine years. It was 1996 when he started doing comedy under a pseudonym. He is famous in standup circles as “Cowboy Bill”.
Fortune was on his side, and within three years, he started headlining some of the most prestigious comedy clubs across the United States, including Hyena’s Comedy Club, Déjà Vu Comedy Club, the Improv, the Funny Bone, and Catch a Rising Star. He became a regular in Las Vegas and became one of the most popular acts with Carnival Cruise Lines.
In 2002, Martin signed with the Four Points management team, who was famous for managing the property dealings of the renowned Blue Collar Comedy Tour. It gave him an exciting chance to go on tours with noteworthy singers, including Rascal Flatts, George Jones, Brad Paisley, Loretta Lynn, and George Strait.
In 2015, Martin self-financed his first TV show, Let the Laughter Roll. The show was received over 2 million views on County Music Television (CMT). The next year, he started the Kings of Cowtown Tour with a newcomer standup comedian, Chad Prather. It was 2017 when he finally dropped his stage name, “Cowboy Bill”, and reverted to William Lee Martin.
The gift Martin possesses enabled him to depict the issues faced by middle-class Americans with a touch of comedy. He didn’t restrict himself only to being a comedian, expanding his expertise to write numerous songs, including “I’ll Stand for You” and “400 Horses.” His artistic journey is a true inspiration for those who appreciate the art forms he has adopted.
