Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Dynomite!

  • Good Times, Bad Times…Our Times - A MemoirGood Times, Bad Times…Our Times - A Memoir
  • By: Jimmie Walker, Sal Manna
  • Narrated by: Jimmie Walker
  • Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
  • 3.0 out of 5 stars (2 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Dynomite! cover art

Dynomite!

By: Jimmie Walker, Sal Manna
Narrated by: Jimmie Walker
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £21.99

Buy Now for £21.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Improv cover art
Cheech Is Not My Real Name cover art
Live at the Fillmore East and West cover art
Starmaker cover art
Best Seat in the House cover art
Even This I Get to Experience cover art
Moguls, Monsters and Madmen cover art
American Legends: The Life of Andy Kaufman cover art
The Me Generation...By Me cover art
Bare Bones cover art
Behind the Laughter cover art
Hitman cover art
There Are Worse Things I Could Do cover art
I Can't Make This Up cover art
Seven Dirty Words cover art
The Gilmore Girls Companion cover art

Summary

Born into the violence of South Bronx ghetto life, the comic pioneer of TV’s Good Times fame offers a hilarious and politically charged review of his career as one of television’s first hugely successful Black stars. From opening for the Black Panthers and getting his first Tonight Show spot to becoming the first “Black” TV sitcom star, having comedians David Letterman and Jay Leno writing jokes for him, recording number-one comedy albums, and opening for rock n’ roll bands in 50,000 seat stadiums, Walker’s career hit all the highs.

Of course, celebrities seldom stay at such highs. But despite going from the cover of TV Guide to becoming a journeyman comedian, Walker’s story is one of courage and unbridled belief in oneself. He never crashed and burned like so many in his profession - notably fellow comedians like Richard Pryor and Freddie Prinze. Instead, he kept at his profession through 300 comedy gigs per year, remembering where he came from and where hard work had got him. He developed a view of the world through a conservative social lens, and as a black man in the entertainment industry he surprised many - and pissed off others – with his “conservative” views.

In his stand-up routine in 1974, Jimmy frequently told this joke: “I think pretty soon there is going to be a black President. Inaugural theme be playing the 'Theme From Shaft'. Prez pulls up - white El Dorado, white bucket seats, bubble top. Prez gets out, tilts his beaver skin hat to the side, braids flowing down his shoulders, looks at the crowd and says, Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, I am very happy to be elected President of these great United States. But moreover, I am even happier to be elected the first black President of these great United States. Right now, I’d like to give you the Inaugural Address but first…the number for today: 7-5-6. You got it? Then you the vice president!”

It's 2011. We now have President Barack Obama. Yet Jimmy Walker - ever the outspoken contrarian - recently escorted conservative columnist Ann Coulter to an awards ceremony. Walker is a frequent guest on Letterman and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. And J.J. Evan’s "Dyn-o-mite!” endures - and was recently voted by People magazine as one of “The Greatest Moments In Pop Culture, 1974-2011.”

©2012 Jimmy Walker (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Dynomite!

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great memoir

A funny book covering Jimmie's life and career. Loses a star for the odd deviations into politics that didn't seem necessary and went on a bit at times but if you re a fan, a fan of the comedy scene or just want to know about some of the greats of comedy this is an enjoyable book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!