A Bushel of Beans and a Peck of Tomatoes

The life story of the Funniest Man in America as only he could tell it. James Gregory is beloved by millionsbut the story of his astonishing rise to success has never been tolduntil now. One of the most successful nightclub and theater comedians in America started out a long way from the stage, in the tiny farming community of Lithonia, Georgia. James was born into a family with lots of love but little money. His parents paid the doctor for his delivery with a bushel of beans and a peck of tomatoes. Before he became The Funniest Man in America, James was a successful salesman of everything from encyclopedias to log homes. His philosophy: take care of yourself so nobody has to take care of you. When he started over as a comedian, this commitment to hard work and honest dealing would be the key to his business of comedy. James loves working peoplebecause thats what he is, too. James was quickly discoverednot just in the South, but across Americaby folks who love down-home, wholesome humor. He became the court jester of country music royalty, too, from Randy Travis to Whispering Bill Anderson to the Possum himself, George Jones. Whether its entertaining our troops in the Persian Gulf after 9/11, working the road with greats like Steven Wright and Jay Leno, or facing a heart-stopping emergency that sent him into a coma, James has squeezed a dozen lifetimes into a half-century of comedy. This book is the best James Gregory story yetas only he can tell it.