Sinbad says he owes Wichita his comedy career

Sinbad became Sinbad one summer in Wichita.

At least that’s where he discovered the confidence he’d need to launch a career that would turn him into one of the country’s most recognizable comedians.

The help came, Sinbad said during a recent phone interview from his home in California’s San Fernando Valley, from a straight-talking, 4-foot-11-inch woman named Mary Jane Teall. It was the early 1980s, and Sinbad (then known as David Adkins) was stationed at Wichita’s McConnell Air Force Base as part of the 384th Air Refueling Wing. He heard about an annual skit show called “Commedia,” which was started by Teall and presented at Wichita Community Theatre, and decided to audition.

“I just showed up and they said, ‘You’re funny,’ and they put me in sketches,” said Sinbad, who chose his comedy name because of his love of Sinbad the Sailor.

The next year, he said, he wanted to submit some sketches he’d written but was afraid. He’d heard Teall tear other people’s writing to shreds. One day, she asked for sketch submissions.

“Someone said, ‘Sinbad’s got some stuff,’ and she said, ‘Let me see it,’ ” he said. “And they used all the sketches I wrote. That’s when I knew I could write.

“That woman changed my life,” said Sinbad, now 59.

Sinbad, who will return to Wichita to perform at the Orpheum Theatre on Friday, has done quite a bit with himself during the 35 years since. After “Commedia,” he won the 1981 Air Force Talent Show, and by 1984 he was a finalist on “Star Search,” where he beat out Dennis Miller in the comedy competition before losing in the final round.

Soon, he became a successful television star, winning roles on “The Redd Foxx Show” and “A Different World” and even landing his own sitcom on Fox. “The Sinbad Show” aired in 1993, though it was canceled after one season.

He also landed starring roles in several films, including 1995’s “Houseguest” with Phil Hartman and 1996’s “Jingle All the Way” with Arnold Schwarzenegger. All the while, he was recording comedy specials and performing standup.

These days, Sinbad’s standup is more sitdown.

In November he underwent a 10-hour spinal fusion surgery and was only cleared to start traveling and performing a little more than a month ago. The surgery was a success, he said, but the doctors don’t want him standing for long periods. So he has to remain seated during his show. (When he remembers, anyway.)

“Even when I’m sitting down, I have the same energy,” he said. “I find myself jumping up and walking around and not even realizing I’m up.”

On the morning of his Wichita show, Sinbad said, he plans to meet several of his Wichita friends from “back in the day” for breakfast. Some are from the Air Force, he said. One is a friend he made in a theater group. One is a girl he mentored.

Another is famous Wichita musician Rudy Love, who used to let a young Sinbad perform standup before he took the stage. Love, Sinbad said, was part of the inspiration for his latest project, a band called Memphis Red and the Stank Nasty Band. Sinbad, who was a drummer in high school, never lost his love for music. In his new band, he plays guitar, bass, percussion, trombone and trumpet.

The band performs what Sinbad calls “funkedy.” (“That’s funk combined with comedy,” he said.) Once his back fully heals, he hopes to get the group booked at some jazz and funk festivals.

“Rudy Love is what made me want to play music again,” he said. “Rudy Love is one of the most gifted people that the world should know.”

Sinbad’s other plans include getting back into film and traveling more, especially to Europe and Japan. The recent deaths of several celebrities in his age bracket have made him realize that his time is precious, he said.

“All my friends and people I love are passing away. David Bowie wasn’t that much older than me,” he said. “I want to hang and enjoy life.”

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Sinbad says he owes Wichita his comedy career."