Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 6, 1993 TAG: 9308050127
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"I'm confused, too," he says. "If this truck is coming at you, you can't get out of the way. You've been run over by an oxymoron. You don't need a doctor! You need an English teacher!"
That's the kind of banter you can expect if you're doing a phone interview with this canny comic. Leake plays the vocabulary like a virtuoso.
The 33-year-old comedian just celebrated his 10th anniversary in professional show biz. He's a favorite headliner in clubs across the country and a frequent guest on "Evening at the Improv" and "The Tonight Show."
He was born in Richmond but now lives 30 miles west of the state capital in Louisa County. Leake and his father share a home they designed themselves.
Because he and his father both have muscular dystrophy, they wanted a house without stairs.
"We built a house that's completely accessible," he explained. "It's easy to get around."
Leake does do some jokes about what it's like to be disabled, but it's not something he dwells on.
"It's an important part of my life, but it's not my whole life," he noted.
"Yes, I have a disability," he once told an audience. "I was an economics major."
In September, he's scheduled to film a segment for a PBS special, "Look Who's Laughing," featuring three disabled comics. The show will be aired next spring.
Leake will visit Blacksburg with another popular comedian, Jim Hanna, this week. Hanna, who's from Santa Monica, Calif., was a writer for David Letterman and has performed on "Showtime."
"Jim is hysterical," Leake said. "He's by far the better comedian."
Leake and Hanna will perform Sunday and Monday at Eat at Joe's (formerly Buddy's) on Jackson Street in Blacksburg. The show coincides with the restaurant's grand opening.
The comedy begins at 10 both nights. A $3 cover charge gets you in if you're 21 or older. The cover for those under 21 is $4.
\ IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE BLUEGRASS LADY SINGS: Actually, it ain't over till John Conlee sings.
Alison Krauss, who won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Recording in 1990, and John Conlee, the country music singer who's been making hits for 25 years, wrap up a week of first-rate entertainment at the New River Valley Fair this weekend.
Krauss performs on the grandstand at 8 tonight.
Rolling Stone called her "a world-class fiddle player whose haunting vocals recall the young Dolly Parton."
Newsweek said she's " . . . one of the most unaffectedly adept country singers on the circuit."
But country music star Vince Gill described her best:
"Alison Krauss . . . she kicks my butt."
Krauss started competing in fiddle contests when she was 8 and recorded her first album when she was only 14. She won the Grammy for her solo album, "I've Got That Old Feeling."
Her band, Union Station, is one of her greatest assets. The combination of Ron Block's banjo picking and Krauss' fiddling is something not to be missed.
On Saturday, you won't want to miss the John Conlee concert. It's also at 8 p.m. on the grandstand.
Conlee's first big hit, "Rose Colored Glasses," was released in 1978. Since then, he has produced 16 albums and a whole slew of singles.
One of Conlee's most popular songs, "Busted," has been a personal success story for the country music singer. Every time he sings the tune at his concerts, fans throw dollar bills on stage. Instead of pocketing the loot, he contributes it to an organization called Feed the Children. So far, he has raised more than $30,000 for the charity.
Conlee's television appearances include shows such as "Hee Haw," "Solid Gold," "Pop Goes the Country" and "Austin City Limits." He's also the radio voice for Budweiser.
Admission to the New River Valley Fair tonight and Saturday is $5 for adults and $2 for children 6 to 11. Kids under 6 get in free. The gate admission includes musical entertainment, but chair seating at the grandstand is an additional $3.
\ CALLING ALL KIDS: It's carnival time at your local library!
The Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library is having a "Pharaoh's Fair" at all three branches to celebrate the end of this year's Summer Reading Program.
Face painting, cotton candy, the Burger King "Whopper Hopper," games, prizes and a mummy or two - that's what's in store.
The carnival runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Christiansburg headquarters library, 125 Sheltman St. Kids can explore the "haunted" Egyptian pyramid and cheer on the contenders in the annual worm race. The library will provide the worms.
On Thursday, the carnival will be at the Jessie Peterman Memorial branch library in Floyd. It runs from 2 to 4 p.m.
The celebration at the Blacksburg branch, 400 Draper Road, is set for Aug. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. Along with the other treats, there's a puppet show at the Blacksburg location.
Admission is free. Children who have collected Pharaoh's Fair tickets may use them at the carnival for games and food. Tickets also will be available for kids who have none.
For more information, call Elizabeth Lindsey, children's coordinator, at 382-6966.
\ HUM-DINGER! The outdoor concerts around here will have you humming all week.
Cast members in the community production of "Oklahoma!" will perform selections from the musical tonight at Pulaski's Jackson Park. The free concert runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments will be sold to benefit Pulaski Main Street, the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley and various projects around town.
On Tuesday, the music moves to Radford. Guitarist Johnny Barnett will play a variety of country, pop and easy listening tunes at the gazebo in Bisset Park. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and admission is free.
Trillium, a women's trio featuring Mary Ann Lentz, Kathy Stell and Kathy Adamo, will perform Thursday in an outdoor concert at the Narrows Town Park. The group does shape-note and sing-along tunes, as well as traditional folk and blues. Scott Hurst will sing and accompany Trillium on mandolin and guitar.
Admission to Thursday's concert is $3 for adults or $1 for children and those with patron tickets.
\ ITCHING FOR BARGAINS: The Floyd Ruritan Club is having its annual flea market Saturday. It starts early (as flea markets should) at the Floyd County High School football field. Vendors will start setting up spaces at 6 a.m., but the gates won't open to the public until 8 a.m.
Admission is 50 cents. Food and drinks will be sold by members of the Ruritan Club.
\ THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THEY USED TO: Movies, that is.
Nickelodeon films are back at Radford University Saturday. The classic movies will be shown in 108 Russell Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.
This month's features are "The Big Circus," starring Victor Mature, and two exciting westerns, "Law of the Canyon" with the Durango Kid and "Death Rides the Range" with Robert Livingston.
Admission is free.
by CNB