”Quake”s” story is unique however. The former enlisted sergeant for the U.S. Air Force and father of three, never had a plan prior to this. In fact, this may not have even been a plan in the first place. A chance performance at a local talent show on base tipped the hat on what would become one of the most successful runs in stand-up comedy in past decades. ”I had no epiphany of one day following in [Richard] Pryor”s or any one else”s foosteps. I just found my comfort zone at being me, and this is the result,” explained Earthquake. And what a result it has been. After becoming a formidable talent of the mid-90”s explosion of televised urban comedy programming in the form of BET”s ComicView and HBO”s Def Comedy Jam, Quake set up shop in New Aged Black Hollywood known as Atlanta and held down the host spot as proprietor of Uptown Comedy Corner. This infamous stage launched his as well as other”s national star status playing sold out rooms and making the most of the would-be historical moment of urban comedy”s peak in mainstream media.
Washington D.C”s Comedian Earthquake born Nathaniel Stroman began to awaken a diverse audience aside from his coveted comedy circuit audiences with a string of unforgettable media appearances and televised performances. Quake would secure a spot in 2002 on Comedy Central”s Premium Blend as well as a guest appearance on Mad TV. In 2003 his audience would see him set precedence as the first comic to command a standing ovation on the critically acclaimed, HBO”s Real Time with Bill Maher. He also shot Comedy Central Presents: EARTHQUAKE! in this same year and in February 2005 he starred in Jamie Foxx”s Comedy Central special Laffapalooza! hailing Earthquake as an all-time favorite. Quake would join HBO and sign on to develop and shoot the coveted half hour comedy series special One Night Stand in August 2005 for which he would receive rave reviews. He”d seemingly be in a love affair with Comedy Central as he would make two memorable appearances on Comedy Central”s Weekend at D.L.”s which would instantly enhance Quake”s visibility on the late night talk show circuit.
With the increased popularity of television programming going to DVD, Quake”s fans began an on again love affair with him. His past performances on BET”s Comic View and HBO”s Def Comedy Jam allowed his fans to connect with his styling, timing and unique delivery making him one of the most quotable comedians of all time. Quake”s audience”s finally got their comic thirsts quenched with Quake”s 2005 DVD release, About Got Damm Time an aptly titled performance film marking the crowning moment in which Earthquake would solely take the stage as an ode to his loyal fans.
From 2006 to present, Earthquake”s television and media presence would grow more significant and spill onto the big screen. He would set a-blaze in 2006 with the first of two unforgettable visits with Howard Stern on Howard TV all while preparing for his major motion picture appearance in Kevin Smith”s cult classic sequel Clerk”s II in which he would star opposite Wanda Sykes. He would continue on the big screen lending his voice to the much beloved animated film, Barnyard as Root the Rooster. During this same year, he would seize the recurring role of Uncle Mike on the CW network”s Everybody Hates Chris. He would go forth blazing the television talk show craze yet again with appearances on Michael Baisden After Dark, Comics Unleashed an additional Howard Stern appearance and in 2008, an appearance on Comedy Central”s uber popular nighttime talk show, Chelsea Lately. 2008 also saw Earthquake as supporting cast in Ice Cube”s film The Longshots, a based-on-a-true story, triumphant tale of an eleven-year old girl from Illinois who would become the first female to play in Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.
Earthquake”s mounting credits include an unforgettable appearance on 2003”s Latham Entertainment Presents and a 2007 all-star appearance on HBO”s Def Comedy Jam. In 2005 he surprised audiences in the film, Getting Played with Vivica Fox, and he will also appear in the forthcoming film Something Like a Business, directed by Russ Parr soon to be released.
2008 brought Quake additional fanfare with his performance on the inaugural installment of the TBS Comedy Festival”s Laffapalooza and in 2009 he would receive critical acclaim for his Just for Laughs stand-up performance and his appearances on TV One”s Roast and Toast: John Witherspoon and the 17th Annual Trumpet Awards.
Earthquake”s appearance on the wildly received Shaquille O”Neal”s Comedy All-Star Comedy Jam currently rivals his concert DVD release From the Outhouse to the White House as his best performances to date (available on Amazon.com as well as national retail outlets). In 2010 Quake teamed up with NASCAR icon Tony Stewart and Armor All for a television project currently available online. Earthquake”s unmistakable voice would be used in the ever so popular online series and televised commercials produced by Nike called the MVP Puppets. Quake would make three appearances with the Nike MVP Puppets during the 2009/2010 campaign. He would star as a detective in one, Santa Claus in another and a fire chief.
In 2011 TV One would soon produce an interesting series connecting throwback iconic television, film and musical personalities of days gone by with the here and the now and in a variety series entitled Way Black When. Quake was secured as guest performer for the segment that covered the 90”s which was extremely well received. 2011 would also see Comedian Earthquake”s career impacted by the influx of viral media as his fans begin to further broaden and expand with every click of the mouse. His clips are generated through many of the popular sites that keep his views in the hundreds of thousands. His recent appearance on George Lopez”s late night show being one of the online highlights as his fans were delighted to see him in that vein.
Presently Comedian Earthquake is preparing to shoot his forthcoming special and maintaing his place as ”the comedian”s favorite comedian” and now a reknowned fan favorite on the comedy circuit nationwide.
