Bill Bellamy is the host of "MTV JAMS," the
network's daily series that features the best videos from hip hop and R&B
artists.
A native of Newark, New Jersey, Bellamy got his start
in comedy doing stand-up in such popular New York City clubs as "Sweetwaters"
(where he made his debut in 1988), "The Comic Strip," "Catch
A Rising Star," "The Improv," as well as "Funny Bones"
in Philadelphia and "The Comedy Store" in Los Angeles. Bellamy
made his national television debut in 1990 as a featured guest on "Showtime
At The 
Apollo." He has been featured on HBO's "Russell Simmons' Def
Comedy Jam," a showcase for young black comics hosted by rap impresario
Russell Simmons, and headlined the 1992 "Def Comedy Jam National Tour"
which hit 60 cities nationwide.
Bellamy has also appeared on cable's "Rascal's Comedy
Hour," and on the "Arsenio Hall Show." He was also one of
six up-and-coming comedians chosen to be showcased on HBO's "15th
Annual 
Young Comedians Show" in 1992. This HBO comedy series has previously
helped launch the careers of such veteran comics as Robin Williams, Jay
Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Lewis and Bab Saget, to name a few, Bellamy
was also in the New Line Cinema motion picture, "Who's The Man?"
Citing Bill Cosby as his idol, Bellamy believes "It's possible to
make people laugh and think at the same time without being heavy-handed."
His real life-based humor touches on drug abuse, safe sex and other issues
of concern to people today.
