Cliff Cash
{{short description|American stand-up comedian (born 1980)}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Cliff Cash
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Cash in Thalian Hall
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1980}}{{cite web |title=The Cash brothers discuss their roots, passions |url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2015/03/22/the-cash-brothers-discuss-their-roots-passions/30977757007/}}
| birth_place = Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S.
| alma_mater = University of North Carolina at Asheville
| occupation = stand-up comedian
| relatives = Wiley Cash (brother)
| years_active = 2011-present
| website = [https://www.comediancliffcash.com/ comediancliffcash.com]
}}
Clifton Freeman Cash (born 1980) is an American stand-up comedian who was born in Gastonia, North Carolina and now resides in Wilmington, North Carolina
His album Half Way There, released on January 8, 2021, on Stand Up! Records, reached No. 1 on the iTunes comedy chart.{{cite news |last= Staton |first= John |date=2021-01-11 |title= Wilmington comedian charts No. 1 comedy album on iTunes |url= https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/entertainment/2021/01/11/comedy-album-cliff-cash-half-way-there-no-1-itunes/6620536002/ |work=Star-News |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite news |last= Carver |first= Shea |date=January 13, 2021 |title= Wilmington comedian Cliff Cash hits #1 on iTunes charts with first LP 'Half Way There' |url= https://portcitydaily.com/arts-and-culture/2021/01/13/wilmington-comedian-cliff-cash-hits-1-on-itunes-charts-with-first-lp-half-way-there/ |work=Port City Daily |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite news |last= Patrick |first= Hannah |date=January 12, 2021 |title= Wilmington comedian releases No. 1 comedy album on iTunes |url= https://www.wwaytv3.com/2021/01/12/wilmington-comedian-releases-no-1-comedy-album-on-itunes/ |work=WWAY |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
Personal life
Cash was born in Gastonia, North Carolina{{cite news |last= Evans |first= Jon |date= January 29, 2021 |title= 1-On-1 With Jon Evans: Cliff Cash: Comedian who says he's Half Way There reaches #1 on iTunes |url= https://www.wect.com/2021/01/29/cliff-cash-comedian-who-says-hes-half-way-there-reaches-itunes-with-jon-evans-podcast/ |work= WECT |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }} and raised in a conservative Southern Baptist home.{{cite news |last= Leonard |first= Sam |date=November 8, 2017 |title= Comics Shane Torres and Cliff Cash visit Pittsburgh |url= https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/comics-shane-torres-and-cliff-cash-visit-pittsburgh/Content?oid=5231050 |work=Pittsburgh City Paper |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |access-date=2021-01-26 }} He is the younger brother of novelist Wiley Cash.{{cite news |last= Cartwright |first=Keith Ryan |date=2016-01-15 |title= Sick of Stupid trio bring smart Southern comedy to Zanies |url= https://www.tennessean.com/story/life/2016/01/15/sick-stupid-trio-bring-smart-southern-comedy-zanies/78691212/ |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville, Tennessee |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite news |last= Poteat |first= Bill |date=2021-01-07 |title= Gastonia's Cliff Cash aims to provide laughs for the new year |url= https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2021/01/07/gastonias-cliff-cash-aims-provide-laughs-new-comedy-album/6568059002/ |work=The Gaston Gazette |location=Gastonia, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }} The two have often appeared on stage together.{{cite news |last= McReynolds |first= Kat |date= October 8, 2016 |title= Conscious party: Wiley and Cliff Cash speak at Authors for Literacy |url= https://mountainx.com/arts/conscious-party-wiley-and-cliff-cash-speak-at-authors-for-literacy/ |work=Mountain Xpress |location=Asheville, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }} They also have a sister.{{cite news |last= Marshall |first= Alli |date= October 24, 2019 |title= Comedian Cliff Cash on living his best life |url= https://mountainx.com/arts/comedian-cliff-cash-on-living-his-best-life/ |work=Mountain Xpress |location=Asheville, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
He attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville.{{cite news |last= Forde-Smith |first= Caitie |date=2013-08-20 |title= Pelican Award: Cliff Cash |url= https://www.coastalreview.org/2013/08/pelican-award-cliff-cash/ |work= Coastal Review Online|publisher=North Carolina Coastal Federation |location=Newport, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
He lives in Wilmington, North Carolina.{{cite news |last= Kosikowski |first= Ashlea |date= January 15, 2021 |title= Comedian Cliff Cash is more than 'Half Way There' |url=https://www.wect.com/2021/01/15/comedian-cliff-cash-is-more-than-half-way-there/ |work= WECT |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite news |last= Staton |first= John |date=2018-12-14 |title= Comedian Cliff Cash talks touring, doing shows for charity and his upcoming album |url= https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20181214/comedian-cliff-cash-talks-touring-doing-shows-for-charity-and-his-upcoming-album |work=Star-News |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite news |last= Callahan |first= Bridget |date=2020-07-28 |title= Won't someone please think of the comedians? |url= https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/entertainment/arts/2020/07/28/wonrsquot-someone-please-think-of-comedians/113390206/ |work= Star-News |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }} He was divorced in 2017.{{cite news |last=Carver |first=Shea |date=2017-06-20 |title= Levity of Life: Local comedian Cliff Cash prepares for live filming of 'Tough Year' at Dead Crow |url= http://www.encorepub.com/levity-of-life-local-comedian-cliff-cash-prepares-for-live-filming-of-tough-year-at-dead-crow/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201001213512/http://www.encorepub.com/levity-of-life-local-comedian-cliff-cash-prepares-for-live-filming-of-tough-year-at-dead-crow/ |url-status= usurped |archive-date= October 1, 2020 |work=Encore Magazine |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
He has made a goal of visiting and documenting all 61 U.S. national parks while on tour as a comic.{{cite news |last= |first= |date= January 19, 2021 |title=This Week on the 5: Cliff Cash's Five Favorite National Parks |url= https://theinterrobang.com/this-week-on-the-5-cliff-cashs-five-favorite-national-parks/ |work=The Interrobang |location= |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite podcast |url= https://roadheadspod.libsyn.com/cliff-cash-lose-yourself |title= Cliff Cash: Lose Yourself |website= Road Heads with Louis Katz & Matt Fulchiron |publisher= |host= Matt Fulchiron |date=2020-08-18 |time= |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
Career
Cash's first open mic was in 2011. Before becoming a full-time comedian, Cash worked in sales and real-estate investing for six years, then started a recycling company, Green Coast Recycling. Cash won a Pelican award from the North Carolina Coastal Federation in 2013 for organizing the environmental group Friends of the Lower Cape Fear.{{cite news |last= Sandford |first= Jason |date= November 22, 2017 |title= In life's ups and downs, comedian Cliff Cash finds plenty to laugh about |url= https://ashvegas.com/lifes-ups-downs-comedian-cliff-cash-finds-plenty-laughs/ |work=Ashvegas |location=Asheville, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
His comedy, inspired by George Carlin, is often satiric and politically pointed, tackling topics such as racism, religious fundamentalism, and the MeToo movement. It often reflects his progressive political outlook, contrasting it with his conservative upbringing and Southern cultural stereotypes.{{cite news |last= Gilmer |first= Jason |date= October 11, 2018 |title= Comedian Cliff Cash likes to take audiences on a journey |url= https://www.goupstate.com/entertainment/20181011/comedian-cliff-cash-likes-to-take-audiences-on-journey |work=Spartanburg Herald-Journal |location=Spartanburg, South Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }} He often uses shows as fundraisers for environmental and other causes.{{cite news |last= |first= |date= June 19, 2017 |title= Wilmington comic comes home to tape special |url= https://www.wect.com/story/35699715/wilmington-comic-comes-home-to-tape-special/ |work=WECT |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }} Bill Poteat of the Gaston Gazette noted that Cash's skewering of southern conservatism can be sarcastic, "yet the humor is at its foundation gentle rather than confrontational".
With two other Southern comics, Tom Simmons and Stewart Huff, Cash launched the Sick of Stupid Tour, which he described as "the unofficial rebuttal" to the more stereotypically Southern Blue Collar Comedy Tour and a different perspective on topics like gay rights, religion and gun control to shows like Duck Dynasty.{{cite news |last2=Shelton-Ormond |first2=Charlie |last1=Stasio |first1=Frank |date=2016-06-16 |title= 'Sick Of Stupid' Uses Comedy To Branch Outside Southern Stereotypes |url= https://www.wunc.org/post/sick-stupid-uses-comedy-branch-outside-southern-stereotypes |work=WUNC (FM) |location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
He has performed across the U.S. since 2016, including the Houston Whatever Fest, Cape Fear Comedy Festival, Norfolk Comedy Festival, Altercation Comedy Festival, San Luis Obispo Comedy Festival, and the Boise, Idaho Treefort Music Fest.{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Chris |date=2017-01-20 |title=Cold War Kids, AWOLNATION, Roky Erickson Top Houston Whatever Fest 2017 |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/cold-war-kids-awolnation-roky-erickson-top-houston-whatever-fest-2017-9128267 |work=Houston Press |location=Houston, Texas |access-date=2020-07-24 }}{{cite news |last= |first= |date= March 4, 2018 |title= Comedian Cliff Cash comes back to Fayetteville |url= https://www.kuaf.com/community-calendar/event/287671#stream/0 |work=KUAF |location=Fayetteville, Arkansas |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.treefortmusicfest.com/2018-day-4/ |title=Day 4 Of Treefort 2018 |author= |date= |website= Treefort Music Fest |publisher= |access-date=2021-02-23}} He won the Port City’s Top Comic contest in 2013, was a semifinalist and regional winner in Comedy Central's Up Next competition,{{cite news |last= Jones |first= Olivia |date=2016-12-05 |title= Cliff Cash coming to Al's Comedy Series |url= http://www.kykernel.com/features/cliff-cash-coming-to-als-comedy-series/article_16ce278c-bb0f-11e6-9eac-2f5f839600ed.html |work=The Kentucky Kernel |location=Lexington, Kentucky |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite news |last= Leonard |first=Jason |date=2018-01-29 |title= Comedy is comedy; don't take it too hard |url= https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/2018/01/29/comedy-comedy-dont-take-too-hard/1069004001/ |work=The Daily Advertiser |location=Lafayette, Louisiana |access-date=2021-01-26 }} and a semifinalist on Standup NBC.{{cite news |last= Beard |first= Brandy |date=2019-11-26 |title= Gastonia native Cliff Cash headlining show at The Comedy Zone |url= https://www.blueridgenow.com/lifestyle/20191126/gastonia-native-cliff-cash-headlining-show-at-comedy-zone |work=Times-News |location=Hendersonville, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}{{cite news |last= |first= |date= January 25, 2019 |title= Cliff Cash live at Relapse Comedy Theater |url= https://events.ajc.com/event/cliff-cash-live-at-relapse-comedy-theater-05ms0spyfe |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |location=Atlanta, Georgia |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
He appeared on two episodes of the Fox series Laughs in 2014.{{cite news |last= Marshall |first= Alli |date= September 29, 2016 |title= Comedian Cliff Cash performs in Asheville on Oct. 13 and 14 |url= https://mountainx.com/blogwire/comedian-cliff-cash-performs-in-asheville-on-oct-13-and-14/ |work=Mountain Xpress |location=Asheville, North Carolina |access-date=2021-01-26 }}
=Albums=
Half Way There was distilled from four hours of material recorded at Dead Crow Comedy Room in Wilmington in 2016. It begins with Cash in character as a stereotypical "redneck", satirizing conservative attitudes, before segueing into his own voice, which is more observational and left-leaning. Richard Lanoie of The Serious Comedy Site reviewed the album positively, writing "I enjoyed it a lot. I just wish there was more, lots more."{{cite web |url= https://theseriouscomedysite.com/comedy-download/half-way-there-cliff-cash/ |title= Half Way There – Cliff Cash |last= Lanoie |first= Richard |date= February 1, 2021 |website=The Serious Comedy Site |publisher= |access-date=2021-02-04}}
Discography
- Cliff Cash, Half Way There (Stand Up! Records, 2021)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.comediancliffcash.com/ Cliff Cash official website]
- [https://standuprecords.com/collections/cliff-cash Cliff Cash at Stand Up! Records website]
- {{IMDb name|id=6883263|name= Cliff Cash}}
- {{Twitter|cliffcashcomedy}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cash, Cliff}}
Category:American male comedians
Category:American stand-up comedians
Category:People from Wilmington, North Carolina
Category:People from Gastonia, North Carolina
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:Stand Up! Records artists