George McKelvey, the “godfather” of the Denver comedy scene, died Friday from a stroke in Hemet, Calif., at the age of 72, according to his wife, Carole.
A mentor and friend to legendary stand-ups across the country, McKelvey was “a comedian until the very end,” his wife said. “His last gig was about a month ago at Laffs Comedy Club in Albuquerque.”
McKelvey was born July 22, 1936, in Chicago. Best known as the owner and co-founder of Denver stand-up institution Comedy Works, McKelvey also was a gifted writer and musician whose performance career stretched back to childhood.
“He was descended from Irish Orangemen, and at their picnics, even when he was 5 or 6 years old, his parents would put him up on a table where he’d sing and dance for money,” Carole said.
After a stint in the Navy, McKelvey began singing folk songs in Chicago and eventually headed to California, where he recorded albums, performed on high-profile shows (Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson) and met various comedians — including Steve Martin.
After McKelvey broke his leg skiing, he offered an Aspen gig to a 21-year-old Martin that helped push Martin toward his status as one of the era’s most successful entertainers. “He generously offered me all of his salary — I think it was three hundred dollars for two weeks — which would be more than I had ever earned, anywhere, anytime,” Martin wrote in his book “Born Standing Up.”
McKelvey’s cult 1960s album “A Crowd of George McKelvey” included such satirical folk songs as “My Teenage Fallout Queen,” a doo- wop parody skewering nuclear war and romance. “My Geiger counter, dear, tells me that you’re hot,” he sings.
After moving to Denver, McKelvey helped found Comedy Works, George McKelvey’s Comedy Club in Aurora and Wit’s End, all safe havens for a string of national acts, including Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen De Generes and Roseanne Barr.
“He was a big part of our history,” said Comedy Works owner Wende Curtis. “Before him there really wasn’t a comedy scene in Denver.”
Comedians Ralph Achilles and Lori Callahan are planning a tribute to McKelvey at Comedy Works that will include friends and colleagues.
“He knew how to book a club and spot good talent,” Carole said. “At least 60 to 70 percent of the comedians who came out of Denver that were successful studied under George.”
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
