Richard Pryor, Jr. aka: "Rainy McKnight" (1962 - present)

Even in death, Peoria comedy legend Richard Pryor casts a large shadow. Perhaps no one knows this better than his son, Richard Pryor, Jr., who left his own mark on the Peoria area in his own way. Those who are old enough to remember the Club Peorian no doubt remember Pryor by another name - Rainy McKnight, the headlining drag queen and emcee. 

Recently, Richard Pryor, Jr. wrote an autobiography entitled, In A Pryor Life. While discussing the ups and downs of his life, Pryor wrote the following about his time performing before the tabloids got wind of it:

"Club Peoria was a gay club that held about 200 people, featured a nightly drag show, and smelled of stale beer. There was a dance floor with a mirrored disco ball and colored lights. During the shows the DJ played whatever songs the performers lip-synched to. Between shows there was dancing to stuff like “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This,” “Hey, Mickey,” and anything by Donna Summer or Grace Jones.

With my performing experiences in Norfolk, I felt right at home getting up on stage.

I adopted a stage name: Rainy McKnight. Although I doubted that any member of my family would wander into the club, should that happen, there was little chance they’d recognize shy little Richie in my outrageous Rainy McKnight persona.

With all my moving from place to place, many of the gorgeous ensembles, wigs, and paraphernalia I’d acquired in New York were left behind or lost. To augment my act, I discreetly borrowed some of my mother’s jewelry and a beaded or sequined dress or two.

My show evolved and, egged on by local fans, got weirder and weirder. Though I still performed the Jennifer Holliday Dreamgirls number, now, in black, I’d have the DJ declare with a cry, She said she would never ever leave me! Then the stage lights would come on, I’d emerge from a coffin, and burst into “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.”

I had learned at the Paradise Garage that you could diversify your music choices. I added some pop tunes to the typical drag repertoire of Broadway show tunes and disco hits. One pop number I performed was “Welcome to the Real World,” a Mr. Mister song that featured Rainy McKnight dolled up as a Zombie Queen.

My most loyal fan was a dear handsome lad who showed up every night I performed and bought me drinks after the show.

His name was Jesse.

He was a White guy with light brown eyes, longish dark hair, and a slight overbite. When he laughed his tongue stuck out like a giggling lizard. Hilarious.

We started dating. We clicked and decided to move in together. We found a small house not far from the Club Peoria. Our home became Diva Central. All the drag queens would come there to change into their stage gear, put on their make-up, offer each other bits of bitchy advice, and maybe smoke a joint and relax before a show.

Life was fabulous. I was in love with a guy who loved my back, and I was a rising star. 

To top it off, Mom actually liked Jesse.

Partly, I think, because Jesse and I had our own place, so it wasn’t like when I was with Larry and the tension that existed between her and me because “my condition” was “our little secret.” And partly because Mom had gradually evolved her position on homosexuality - at least as it applied to her only son - and accepted the fact that I was unlikely to produce grandchildren for her. 

Jesse would often visit Mom with two six-packs of Bud, her favorite beer. They’d sit around the kitchen, sometimes with Aunt Betty, who also liked him. If it was a nice warm day they’d hang out in the back yard and knock back a few brews while they shot the shit.

I felt so emboldened by Mom’s new attitude that I invited her to a performance."

Although some of his family still resides in the area, Pryor has since moved to New York City. 

In A Pryor Life is available through Bear Manor Media. I highly recommend it!