WARREN Comics, jazz to be on agenda

Comedian D.L. Hughley, who has ties to Warren, will entertain the crowd during the annual gala Friday.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Thomas Conley's connections are paying off.
The chief executive officer and president of the Warren-Trumbull Urban League Inc. had a vision for the organization's annual dinner even before he took that office in 1995.
Before that, he served as the urban league's finance director and says the annual dinner was lacking something.
"It was just a dinner and a speaker," he said. "It was nice but I wanted to make it more like a gala."
So that's what he did.
This year's gala is Friday at Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave., and featured entertainment will be comedian D.L. Hughley.
A jazz performance is also on tap, and comedian Damon Williams, who is host of Teen Summit for Black Entertainment Television, also will perform. Scholarships will be awarded to students who, Conley said, have not been chosen.
If you go: Tickets are $40 for dinner and entertainment, and $30 for the show only. Semiformal attire is required.
Tickets are available at the urban league offices, 290 W. Market St., and at RBG Music, 1958 Palmyra Road S.W. Or call the urban league at (330) 394-4316.
A reception begins at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7. Entertainment begins around 8:30.
A biography of Hughley says he's one of the most highly recognized stand-up comedians on the road today.
He stars in his own sitcom, "The Hughleys," which airs on the WB network at 8:30 p.m. Mondays, and has secured a few nominations for People's Choice Awards. He most recently appeared in the movie "The Brothers."
Hughley was also nominated for the awards in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and received a Grammy nomination this year for his comedy album, "The Original Kings of Comedy."
He also starred with Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac in the "Crown Royal Kings of Comedy Tour."
Hughley says he enjoys making people laugh, explaining, "I think there's a lot of material in my act that is positive and real."
Hometown roots: Conley said his connections helped bring Hughley to Warren and noted the comedian has family, including cousins, in the area.
Hughley's father is from Warren and Hughley at one time lived here, Conley said.
The comedian now lives in southern California with his wife, LaDonna, and their three children, and his parents have moved from the area, Conley said.
The director said he's excited about the event, but nervous about how things will turn out.
"This has been a vision since 1994," he added.