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August 2, 2010

Carl Hurley headlining Thursday night live

The Times-Tribune

CORBIN — By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer

“America’s Funniest Professor,” and one of Laurel County’s favorite sons, is set to bring waves of laughter to London’s Main Street Thursday.

Carl Hurley, Ph.D., will appear at Thursday Night Live in a free 8 p.m. performance, said London Downtown’s Chris Robinson.

The retired professor’s last public appearance in London was in November when he was presented a street sign naming the road on which he grew up north of East Bernstadt as Carl Hurley Lane.

He was presented the sign at the downtown restaurant Weaver’s Hot Dogs.

Thursday Night Live has for the past five years been primarily a music venue and this will be the first time a comedian will perform as a headliner, said Robinson.

Comedic analysts say that Hurley draws from his roots in the tradition of country humorists, Andy Griffith and Garrison Keillor.

His clean humor reflects on life in the mountains of Kentucky. He has even written a book about growing up in the mountains, “We Weren’t Poor — We Just Didn’t Have Any Money.

Hurley’s skills range from yard-spinning to comic acting.

Hurley graduated from Hazel Green High School in Laurel County, worked his way through Eastern Kentucky State College and by the time he earned a master’s degree in 1966, the school had changed its name to Eastern Kentucky University.

A doctor’s degree in education came in 1971.

In that year his new career began to grow. He’d made an effort to liven up a boring school conference with his down-home stories.

A conferee had been impressed with his style and asked him to speak at a meeting of his company’s employees.

Ten years later, his educational experience morphed into full-time entertainment, stand-up comedy, convention keynotes, seminars and workshops.

He’s of late appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and at the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center.

Opening the show at 7 p.m. Thursday is the band Faubush Hill.

For more information, contact Robinson at 606-862-8841 or Lmainstreet@windstream.net.

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