Damn

Another great comedian has died. There is a new trend in comedy--racial comedy. There are two pioneers in the new generation of comedians--Carlos Mencia and Freddy Soto. Carlos as we all know has a show on comedy central. I'll admit it is pretty good. Freddy on the other hand was just breaking out to the big time in comedy. He had a cameo in "Spanglish." Admittedly it wasn't that good of a movie, but his performance was good as always.

Freddy grew up in El Paso (same town as I did), so a lot of is material revolved around his family and the way people were in this town. He talked about 'Beaners" and "Rednecks" a few times in some of his shows. He had shot a pilot for UPN and then for CBS. The networks had started to realize that they need to appeal to the growing "minority" in this country. Alas, both pilots never saw the light of day, much to the loss of the American viewing public. He had a special on Comedy Central a few years back and was one of the "Three Amigos" of comedy.

He went to El Paso High School, the very same high school my sister and mother went to. Not only that, but most of my mom's family went there as well as my brother in law. Freddy used to work at the Whataburger by UTEP and used to go to Juarez on the weekends. I first ran into Freddy at a bar called the CopaCabana in Juarez. It was one of those open warehouse discos of the 80's. He moved to LA a couple of years later. In 1992 or so I was at a Christmas party with my sister and her friends and ran into him there. He was talking about how different LA was from El Paso.

A few years later I was living in Dallas and heard him on the radio doing some really funny shit. I knew that I had to go see him. His routine was good and talking to him afterwards was great. Last year I went to see him in El Paso with a friend of mine. After the show I talked to him for a bit and got invited to a party afterwards. I really wanted to go, but had a very long day and the girls I was with didn't want to go. I rememeber asking him about his daughter and his eyes lit up. He was so proud.

I was messing around on the net last night and saw that he had passed away last month. Damn, he was my age for chrissakes. He left behind a loving wife, a beautiful daughter, a loving family, and friends that will miss him greatly.

I'm hoping that Carlos does a tribute to Freddy with his new found fame.

Rest In Peace Alfredo Soto, Jr.