Tiny Glover
Posted on 04/06/2008 at 03:13 PM

My friend and fellow comic, Tiny Glover passed away this morning. From what I’ve been told he had a heart attack while working out in the gym of the hotel he was staying at in Illinois. He was there to perform at a college and do what he did best, make people smile and laugh. I received the news while making a short drive from Lansing, MI to South Bend, IN and it’s just not sinking in that this wonderful man is gone. I guess in situations like this though it probably never really does.

I first met Tiny Glover way back in 1994 when I stepped on a comedy stage for the very first time to take part in the "Funniest Person in Rochester Contest". I was beyond nervous and literally had no idea what I was doing. After my set I was sitting on the steps outside the club’s entrance when this large, black man approached me. It took only moments for Tiny’s larger-than-life personality to reveal itself as he sat down beside me and praised the effort I had just put forth. He was headlining the show that night, so the audience could be treated to a real pro, and told me that he had been running late and walked in while I was on stage and thought to himself, "Oh no...the contest is over and they started the part of the show with the professional comics". I knew he was just being kind, but it meant a lot to me and from that moment on a friendship was formed.

In the years that would follow, Tiny always did whatever he could for me, from setting up guest spots at the new club in town, The Comix Cafe, where he was the house MC, to taking me out on the road with him and letting me open the college shows he would do in and around the east coast. After each show he would discuss my set with me and became a mentor for my young career. He paid me out of his own pocket and took care of all the expenses on these trips too. That’s the kind of guy Tiny was.

I remember almost each and every car ride I shared with him and everything he would teach me about this business. During the times when I would spew forth my ignorance about how things were going to be for me he would just sit back, in a father-like way, and realize there were some things I had to learn on my own. Up and down the highway we would go laughing, learning and maybe even doing a little gossiping on the side.

Some of the best memories I have from my time as a comic are when I would sit in the back of the room, during those early days at the club, and watch Tiny create his magic on stage. I would marvel at how when the show was over, people would flock to him rather than the two comics who he had introduced and brought up that night as the MC. I don’t know what it was but he was like a Pied Piper to anyone that had the good fortune to be a part of his audience. He would come off stage and the masses would follow him all in hopes of a few minutes of his time. And before he would leave, that’s just what he made sure to do...shake every hand and accept every hug that was offered his way. That’s the kind of guy Tiny was.

If I had to pick one thing special that I’ll always remember about him though it would probably be how he seemed to get along especially well with my mother. The exchanges the two of them would have, when he would pick me up to go on a gig, always filled the first hour of our trip as he went on and on about what a special lady she was and how she cracked him up. It was a side of my mom I loved seeing and Tiny brought it out in her. He brought the best out in just about everybody he encountered though.

I would ask him from time to time why he did all the things that he had done for me and his reply was simply because that’s what you’re supposed to do...help people. He would then always make sure to add that the only thing he wanted in return was for me to one day return the favor to somebody else. He would say that when I reached a point in my career where I could extend the hand of help to somebody who needed it, to make sure I did. That’s the kind of guy Tiny was.

You will be missed my friend and I could never say thank-you enough for what you helped me become. Without you, there is no me.

Rest in peace Chocolate Justice.