Firestone will tailor a lecture for Valley

The multi-talented man is more than just an interviewer

Staff report

WARREN

Roy Firestone will present a one-man show he has created for the Mahoning Valley when he comes to Packard Music Hall on Thursday.

A former ESPN interviewer, humorist, singer and impressionist, Firestone has won seven Emmy Awards and seven Awards for Cable Excellence.

The Packard appearance will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 and are available by calling the box office at 330-841-2931 or online at warrencivicmusic.com.

In his career, Firestone has interviewed more than 5,000 athletes, musicians, actors and political figures, as well as scores of writers and filmmakers.

The late Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Jim Murray once said, “Roy Firestone isn’t just the best sports interviewer I’ve ever seen, he’s the best interviewer period. That includes, Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters, Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, any and all of them.”

Firestone is also the author of two best-selling books, “Up Close with Roy Firestone” and “Don’t Make Me Cry, Roy.” He is donating a portion of the proceeds from the latter book to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief.

Firestone is among the nation’s most sought-after keynote speakers and lecturers. He has performed in more than 2,000 venues spanning two decades.

As an actor, Firestone was featured in the Academy Award-winning 1996 film “Jerry Maguire,” where he played himself in a memorable scene with Cuba Gooding Jr.

His television credits include “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Married with Children.” Fans of “The Simpsons” remember him as the voice of Bart Starr. No stranger to talk shows, Firestone’s appearances include “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Later with Bob Costas,” “Larry King Live” and “The Tonight Show.”

As a singer, Firestone recently released his first CD, “Another Voice.”