In March, comedian Darius Bradford lost his son Darius Bradford Jr. to gun violence.
鈥淲ith the loss of my son...I have a whole, entirely different perspective on life,鈥 Bradford says.
He never knew it could get so hard and has relied on his relationship with God and his family as he mourns.
鈥淪ome of the saddest people are comedians.鈥
Now, Bradford is turning back to comedy as he mourns. He is going to bare his truth on stage at the Sheldon on May 17 when he opens for Will Downing.
With 25 years of comedy under his belt, the stand-up mic remains an expressive outlet for Bradford.
鈥淚 want to talk about what matters,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 want to joke about what鈥檚 real, but at the same time, have a sense of respect and understanding that I want this to go somewhere.鈥
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Despite his grief, he looks forward to hitting the stage to do what he does best.
鈥淚 let a little bit of the future be my fuel to continue to go on,鈥 he says.
University City native and stand-up comedian Darius Bradford.
His show at the Sheldon, a fundraiser concert presented by the Eta Boule Foundation, will cater to his adult fan base. Bradford describes the set as 鈥渕ature and nostalgic鈥; it will remind everyone never to take life too seriously. Former KMOX Radio news anchor Carol Daniel will serve as mistress of ceremonies, with DJ Quinn spinning on the turntables.
Bradford is also launching a new podcast focused on comedy and music. Although he鈥檚 still toying around with the show name, Bradford says he鈥檚 focused on bringing music back to the forefront. He describes it as 鈥淎rsenio Hall meets 鈥榁ideo Soul,鈥欌 with a variety portion and artist performances. The show will include interviews with R&B legends, comedy greats and everyday people with unique stories to tell.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about bringing everyday people to the forefront because that鈥檚 who really sets the tone for entertainment,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the underdog.鈥
Bradford prides himself on being what he calls 鈥渁 normal person.鈥 Embracing normalcy became the catalyst for his career in comedy, one avoidant of punchlines and cheap shots but fueled by observational humor from Bradford鈥檚 real life.
University City native and stand-up comedian Darius Bradford.
He first realized he was funny after graduating from University City High School. His senior year was filled with signatures and salutations from classmates encouraging Bradford to explore comedy and how his humor helped them through tough times as teenagers. As a young adult, Def Comedy Jam intrigued him, and he eventually auditioned for a chance to perform at the Fox Theatre, though he ultimately didn鈥檛.
Two decades later, Bradford is known as the person who makes jokes land onstage and behind the scenes. He was hands-on with arranging show stops for the 鈥淥riginal Kings of Comedy鈥 tour featuring Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, D.L. Hughley and fellow 51黑料 native Cedric the Entertainer.
He was featured on BET鈥檚 鈥淐omic View鈥 and Jamie Foxx鈥檚 鈥淟affapalooza.鈥 Bradford鈥檚 stand-up has led him to perform with comedians like Martin Lawrence while lending a comedic pen to the jokes of Rickey Smiley, Sommore and Cedric the Entertainer.
He reflects on his career, calling it 鈥渁 historical run.鈥
鈥淏ehind the scenes, I kind of make the funny funnier,鈥 he says. 鈥淓ven if I鈥檓 not just writing directly, I鈥檒l take your material and pump it up.鈥
University City native and stand-up comedian Darius Bradford.
Bradford is aware that he has a different approach to comedy than most. His style embodies the best of both worlds, one allowing him to teeter between mature and clean jokes with ease. He鈥檚 slightly introverted and knows he鈥檚 a different breed of entertainer.
鈥淚 get a chance to see everything different than everybody else, and so I just tend to walk that up on the stage with what I see,鈥 he says.
For Bradford, real life involved being an active father to his adult children. A successful career can sometimes limit entertainers from having full experiences with their families. But Bradford says it鈥檚 a top priority for him.
While he lost one son, another, Tonerio Brown, is following in his footsteps as he strives for stand-up acclaim. Brown was Helium Comedy Club鈥檚 Funniest Person in 2023 and has been making a name for himself in the regional scene. Although he鈥檚 well-connected in the industry, Bradford says Brown鈥檚 strides are his own. He occasionally offers his son advice, but has enjoyed watching him open his own doors.
鈥淲e have a good time when we鈥檙e together,鈥 he says. 鈥淗e respects me as a dad and a comic.
鈥淓verything I do now, even as adults, is for my young adult children.鈥
Bradford lives life like a lottery. Even if Monday starts off badly, he knows that he can play the numbers and be a winner come Saturday. Comedy is his comfort, a relief in the midnight hour when life gets heavy. After spending decades mastering the extreme highs and lows of humor, Bradford realizes that laughter calms the storm.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be exactly who I am, and I thank God for this entire journey,鈥 he says. 鈥淎nd I just don鈥檛 complain.鈥
Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here's a glimpse at the week of April 20, 2025. Video edited by Jenna Jones.
