Page 30 - AHATA

A14 LOCAL
Monday 9 July 2018

Ray Ellin, comedian, host and producer:

‘It Feels Good’

Brian Scott McFadden, and that he wanted to be a co-
Dan Naturman will climb median, and of course he
the stage. And of course, was not too wild about the
the shows are hosted by idea. “But I told him: this is
Ray himself. These shows what I want to do. It was
have become the most very clear to me. My first
popular thing to do at night performance was when I
in Aruba. An almost guar- was 11 years old, during 6 th
antee to laugh your heart grade graduation, and it
out. went well. After that I did
standup at summer camp
Little Ray and school talent shows.”
“When I was 11 years old, When he was 15 years old,
I used to watch Saturday Ray performed at night-
Night Live and also the To- clubs in Boston. He would
night Show. When I was take the train by himself
nine I vividly remember to downtown Boston to
watching SNL and thought: comedy clubs in pretty ter-
what is this, this is great.” rible neighborhoods. “One
Little Ray made kids laugh was in a neighborhood
in school, as well as rela- called ‘The Combat Zone.’
tives when he was only 3 or A fifteen year old had no
4 years old. “I got that from business being there,” he
my mother, I would see her laughs. He kept performing,
entertaining people in our and got better and better,
By Linda Reijnders He wants people to know ley, Lenny Marcus, Tony V, house when I was a kid. She determined in following his
“It feels good to make oth- how much he loves the is- Pete Lee, Tony Woods, Joe is very outgoing and funny, passion.
ers feel good.” Ray Ellin is land and does the best Vega, Mike Vecchione, and a classical pianist, so I
a kind of half Aruban so to he can to promote it. He Ricky Velez, Yamaneika kind of picked stuff up from
speak. Well, he lives here also brings big name com- Saunders, Gregg Rogell, her. It was positive and fun, Continued on Page 15
almost half the year and ics here that are followed Jessica Kirson, Jimmy Dunn, I loved it.” He told his dad
his nickname is Aruba Ray. by many, many people.
The American comedian, He takes the comedians
host and producer lives around to show them the
the other half of the year in Aruba outside the resort.
New York. He just finished Ray is happy here, during
producing a new tv show the day enjoying his Aruba
for Comedy Central, which and during his shows in the
will air in the fall. Here at evenings making people
One Happy Island he cre- laugh. “It is a great feeling,
ated, produced, and hosts a positive affirmation. You
a very successful nightly know that you make other
live stand-up comedy people feel good and that
show through his company makes you feel good. There
Aruba Ray, called Aruba is just one big positive vibe
Ray’s Comedy, which is at in the room. Of course that
the Marriott Resort & Stel- feeds your ego. It’s great
laris Casino. Aruba Today energy.”
was curious about the man
behind the laughs. Big Names
The comedians he brings
“I really think I became here are not just any names.
the number 1 ambassa- They are very experienced,
dor for Aruba in the States. very talented performers,
When I am on different TV who have been on dozens
shows like on NBC and Fox of tv shows and movies. This
I always talk about Aruba. I run of shows will include
love it, it’s a part of my soul.” Chuck Nice, Christine Hur-