Bill Hicks

William Melvin Bill Hicks was an American standup comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material, encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy, was controversial, and often steeped in dark comedy. He criticized consumerism, superficiality and banality within the media and popular culture, which he characterized as oppressive tools of the ruling class that keep people stupid and apathetic.

Hicks was born in Valdosta, Georgia, the son of James Melvin Jim Hicks and Mary Reese Hicks, and younger sibling of Lynn and Steve. The family lived in Florida, Alabama, and New Jersey before settling in Houston, Texas, when Bill was seven. He was drawn to comedy at an early age, emulating Woody Allen and Richard Pryor, and writing routines with his friend Dwight Slade. At school he began performing comedy mostly derivations of Woody Allen material for his classmates. At home, he would write his own oneliners and slide them under the bedroom door of his brother Steve the only family member Bill respected for his critical analysis. Keep it up, Steve told him. Youre really good at this.

Source: Wikipedia