Tough to mimic Conklin’s success

By Joe Mason
Times Sports Editor

God-given talent is certainly a big part of it.
And maybe his Philadelphia connection gives him an edge because he knows the area as well as anyone.
But for comedian Joe Conklin, it’s his ability to impersonate just about any voice, coupled with his work ethic and Philadelphia roots, that keeps his material fresh and usually hysterical.
Conklin has been a host on 93.3 WMMR’s drive-time radio show, The Philly Guys, for a little over a year now. And despite heavy competition, the show, which features Conklin’s comedic styles, has increased 1.5 rating points since the debut.
And that makes Conklin proud.
But he’s far from satisfied.
"We’ve gone up and we’re doing well, but there’s a lot of work to do," said Conklin, a 1980 graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School.
For Conklin, the work has been enjoyable.
He started a full-time gig in 1994 on 610 WIP’s morning show, where Conklin would routinely impersonate sports personalities. And even though he would occasionally go off the board and into mainstream, non-sports personalities, his general job was to keep it sports-related.
Now, in the new show, he’s free to do just about anything he wants.
"It’s opened a whole new world for me," said Conklin, who now lives in Marlton, N.J. "It’s a different audience. I can still do sports, which has always been a great passion of mine. But I’m on a show that features rock music, so I can always go in that direction.
"It’s fun because I have an opportunity to do more than just sports and reach a larger audience. And it’s a new audience. Some of the people never heard of me and now they’re listening to me."
On top of the radio program, the ambitious comedian still performs at large and small venues.
On Sept. 25, he will appear at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa. And he will take part in a benefit in Belmar, N.J., for firefighters involved in rescue efforts during the events of 9/11.
Conklin will especially enjoy the benefit because it gives him a chance to entertain and help out.
"I absolutely enjoy benefits because it always feels good to help someone," Conklin said. "And standup is great, it’s something I always want to do.
"Right out of college, I started doing standup. I’d go to open-mike nights, or do little shows. I still enjoy doing little shows. I enjoy everything. It doesn’t matter if it’s in Atlantic City, the Keswick Theater or Ollie’s (a small bar in North Wildwood, N.J.). I love going out there and interacting with the people," he said.
Though he’s the only Conklin whose voice booms over the airwaves every morning, the comedian notes that he has many talented relatives.
His mother, Kathleen, is heavily involved in her church choir. His sister Joan runs the choir at Our Lady of Good Council in Southampton and was featured in many school plays during her days at Dougherty. His brother Jim sings in a local band.
"It was always a battle for the stage most of the time," Conklin said. "My sister is very talented. She takes after my dad. He sung at weddings and funerals, and she does the same thing. Singing is a big family thing."
Unlike his family, Conklin rarely sings in his own voice. He has released three records — and all three feature Conklin singing songs in other people’s voices.
"I do a couple hundred voices," Conklin said. "Some come very easy and some are difficult.
"Like Ed Rendell. When he was mayor, I had a real hard time doing his voice. It actually wasn’t until he ended up on Comcast that I actually got his voice down," Conklin explained. "And it took me a long time to get Bush. I just couldn’t get old George W., but finally I just did it and it worked.
"It’s funny, some voices just come easily and some I have to listen to and work on. There’s no real science to it. I try them out on co-workers and family members, and depending on the reaction I get, I use it. If it gets a good reaction, I’ll introduce it."
Hearing voices — and being able to duplicate them — certainly has been Joe Conklin’s ticket to an entertaining career.
"It’s really living a dream," he said. "I have done other jobs, but this has been a great life. I do have to get up early, so that’s not fun, but other than that, I couldn’t ask for anything better." ••
Contact sports editor Joe Mason at 215-354-3035 or jmason@phillynews.com