Tom Dreesen: Stand Up Comedian/Opened for Frank Sinatra for 14 Years

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The show begins with Tom telling why growing up in poverty was the greatest thing that happened to him. How he decided to pursue of being an entertainer which includes the background from being a drug education presenter to teaming up with Tim Reid to become the first biracial standup comedy team. They even wrote a book! (See show notes).

Going from Illinois to LA, sleeping in an abandon car and getting his start with The Comedy Store and going back to Harvey, IL to record his LP: That White Boy’s Crazy in front of an all-black audience.
The story behind how he met Mickey Rudin the lawyer for Frank Sinatra which led to 14 years of opening for him. Tom tells us a few stories about singing in a car with Frank, Harry Carey and Frank drinking, and a night when he forgot his lyrics on stage.

Tom tells us two EXCELLENT life lessons he learned from Sinatra.
His work with different charities and his new endeavor The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative.
His book: Still Standing- My Journey from Streets & Saloons to the Stage & Sinatra. Which has over 400 five stars on Amazon. His one-man show called- The Man Who Made Sinatra Laugh.

Tom Dreesen Links:
Website: https://tomdreesen.com/
Book Still Standing: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Standing-Journey-Streets-Saloons/dp/1642933600
Book Tim and Tom in Comedy: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Standing-Journey-Streets-Saloons/dp/1642933600
Video of Tom Dreesen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEcyJOExzOE
Illinois Fatherhood Initiative:  https://www.4dads.org/

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