Joe Raiola
Encyclopedia
Joe Raiola, born October 12, 1955, is an American comedian, comedy writer and producer. He has been a member of the editorial staff of MAD magazine since 1985 and currently holds the title of Senior Editor.
He is also known for his solo shows, The Joy Of Censorship and Almost Obscene, and for the Annual John Lennon Tribute in New York City
of which he is the co-creator and producer.
where he attended Tottenville High School
. He was awarded a scholarship to Adelphi University
based on his work in the school drama class. After graduating from Adelphi in 1977, he was a taxi driver in New York City until the mid-1980s.
participants such as Tony Hendra
and Sean Kelly
on a series of popular magazine spoofs, including Cosmoparody and Like A Rolling Stone.
He sold his first article, a collaboration with his long time writing partner, Charlie Kadau, to MAD magazine that same year. In 1985, Raiola and Kadau became MAD staffers, writing for the magazine as a team and also separately. Among their frequently reprinted MAD pieces was The Belching Dragon, a parody of a Chinese take-out menu.
In the early 1990’s, The Joy Of Censorship, Raiola’s comic take on controversial First Amendment
issues, earned him a reputation as an outspoken defender of free speech. He’s performed the show at colleges, regional theaters, libraries and professional conferences, and continues to tour with it today. It has been broadcast on C-SPAN
's American Perspectives television series.
In 2002 Raiola’s Almost Obscene show was a hit at the New York City International Fringe Festival. The New York Times called it “a ruefully amusing lament for the ineradicable hypocrisy of humanity.” In July 2006, at the Henry Miller
Library, Raiola unveiled a new version of the show, which he also performed as part of the Woodstock Fringe, where the Woodstock Times
called it “unflinchingly honest and thought provoking.”
The Tribute has attracted many well-known artists such as Patti Smith
, Jackson Browne
, Cyndi Lauper
, Aimee Mann
, Rosanne Cash
, David Bromberg
, Bettye LaVette
, Joan Osborne
, Steve Forbert
and Michelle Shocked
.
Upon hearing of the Tribute for the first time in 2004, Yoko Ono
invited Raiola to contribute to her book, Memories of John Lennon.
Its 30th Anniversary took place at the Beacon Theatre.
He is also known for his solo shows, The Joy Of Censorship and Almost Obscene, and for the Annual John Lennon Tribute in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
of which he is the co-creator and producer.
Early Life
Joe Raiola was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up on Staten IslandStaten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
where he attended Tottenville High School
Tottenville High School
Tottenville High School is located at 100 Luten Avenue, in Huguenot, Staten Island, New York. It is within walking distance of the Huguenot train station of the Staten Island Railway system. Tottenville H.S. is in administrative district 31. The school’s current principal is John P. Tuminaro...
. He was awarded a scholarship to Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
based on his work in the school drama class. After graduating from Adelphi in 1977, he was a taxi driver in New York City until the mid-1980s.
Writing Career
Raiola began his professional comedy writer career in 1984 working with National LampoonNational Lampoon
National Lampoon was both a ground-breaking American humor magazine and also a wide range of productions directly associated with that magazine. The magazine ran from 1970 to 1998, and was originally a spinoff of the Harvard Lampoon....
participants such as Tony Hendra
Tony Hendra
Tony Hendra is an English satirist and writer who has worked mostly in the United States. Educated at St Albans School and Cambridge University, he was a member of the Cambridge University Footlights revue in 1962, alongside John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Tim Brooke-Taylor.-Career:In 1964 Hendra...
and Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly
Sean Kelly may refer to:* Sean Kelly , Professor of philosophy at Harvard University* Sean Kelly , Irish professional road bicycle racer...
on a series of popular magazine spoofs, including Cosmoparody and Like A Rolling Stone.
He sold his first article, a collaboration with his long time writing partner, Charlie Kadau, to MAD magazine that same year. In 1985, Raiola and Kadau became MAD staffers, writing for the magazine as a team and also separately. Among their frequently reprinted MAD pieces was The Belching Dragon, a parody of a Chinese take-out menu.
Performing Career
Raiola honed his skills as a comic performer at Theatre Within in New York City, where he had begun studying with director Alec Rubin in 1979. He appeared in clubs and small theaters around New York in a series of one-man shows, including Lost In The New Age, based on his Whole Life Magazine column of the same name.In the early 1990’s, The Joy Of Censorship, Raiola’s comic take on controversial First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
issues, earned him a reputation as an outspoken defender of free speech. He’s performed the show at colleges, regional theaters, libraries and professional conferences, and continues to tour with it today. It has been broadcast on C-SPAN
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
's American Perspectives television series.
In 2002 Raiola’s Almost Obscene show was a hit at the New York City International Fringe Festival. The New York Times called it “a ruefully amusing lament for the ineradicable hypocrisy of humanity.” In July 2006, at the Henry Miller
Henry Miller
Henry Valentine Miller was an American novelist and painter. He was known for breaking with existing literary forms and developing a new sort of 'novel' that is a mixture of novel, autobiography, social criticism, philosophical reflection, surrealist free association, and mysticism, one that is...
Library, Raiola unveiled a new version of the show, which he also performed as part of the Woodstock Fringe, where the Woodstock Times
Woodstock Times
Woodstock Times is a small weekly newspaper in Woodstock, New York that is circulated every Thursday. It was established in 1972 by its current owner Geddy Sveikauskas of Ulster Publishing.The editor is Brian Hollander.-External links:*...
called it “unflinchingly honest and thought provoking.”
Annual John Lennon Tribute
In 1981, Raiola (with Alec Rubin) created Theatre Within's Annual John Lennon Tribute, which is the longest running such tribute in the world. Raiola has produced and appeared in the Tribute for 30 consecutive years. It is a charity event whose proceeds have benefited such organizations as Why Hunger and the Playing For Change Foundation.The Tribute has attracted many well-known artists such as Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
, Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
, Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.-Early life:Aimee Mann grew up in Bon Air, Virginia, graduated from Open High School in 1978 and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes...
, Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of the late country music singer Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin....
, David Bromberg
David Bromberg
David Bromberg is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Bromberg has an eclectic style, playing bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock and roll equally well. He is known for his quirky, humorous lyrics, and the ability to play rhythm and lead guitar at the...
, Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette is an American soul singer-songwriter who made her first record at sixteen, but achieved only intermittent fame until 2005, with her album, I've Got My Own Hell to Raise...
, Joan Osborne
Joan Osborne
Joan Elizabeth Osborne is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her song "One of Us". She has toured with Motown sidemen the Funk Brothers and was featured in the documentary film about them, Standing in the Shadows of Motown.-Biography:Originally from Anchorage, Kentucky, a suburb...
, Steve Forbert
Steve Forbert
Steve Forbert is an American pop music singer-songwriter. He is best known for his song "Romeo's Tune", which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1980....
and Michelle Shocked
Michelle Shocked
Michelle Shocked is the stage name of Michelle Karen Johnston, an American singer-songwriter.-History:Shocked received her first international exposure in Europe, particularly Britain, with her debut album The Texas Campfire Tapes .Her first U.S...
.
Upon hearing of the Tribute for the first time in 2004, Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
invited Raiola to contribute to her book, Memories of John Lennon.
Its 30th Anniversary took place at the Beacon Theatre.