About Lashonda Lester
Lashonda Lester (September 11, 1975 - April 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian from Austin, Texas. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she was a precocious reader and performer from a young age and developed an early interest in comedy, memorizing routines by Redd Foxx, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor. Lester moved to Austin in 2004 and began performing stand-up in 2008. She became known for creating and starring in the darkly comic biography series Weird! True Hollywood Tales, which ran for five seasons at Austin's Salvage Vanguard Theater. In 2016, she won the annual Funniest Person in Austin competition at Cap City Comedy Club, becoming the first black comedian to win the award. Her posthumous debut album, Shondee Superstar, was released by Stand Up! Records in 2019 and was critically praised. Marc Maron called her a funny, authentic, hard-working comic who had her own voice.
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Frequently asked questions
Where was comedian Lashonda Lester from?
Lashonda Lester was an American stand-up comedian based in Austin, Texas; she was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Austin in 2004.
When did Lashonda Lester start doing stand-up?
She began performing stand-up comedy in 2008, a few years after settling in Austin.
What was Weird! True Hollywood Tales?
It was a darkly comic biography series created by and starring Lashonda Lester, which ran for five seasons at Salvage Vanguard Theater in Austin.
Did Lashonda Lester win Funniest Person in Austin?
Yes. In 2016 she won the annual Funniest Person in Austin competition at Cap City Comedy Club and was the first black comedian to take that award.
Does Lashonda Lester have a comedy album?
Her debut album, Shondee Superstar, was released after her death by Stand Up! Records in 2019 and received strong praise from critics.
Which comedians inspired Lashonda Lester?
As a young performer she memorized routines by Redd Foxx, George Carlin and Richard Pryor, which fed her early interest in comedy.
