Lord Buckley

Lord Buckley (Richard Myrle Buckley, 1906–1960) was an American comedian and monologist celebrated for his rapid-fire “hipster” jive and jazz-inflected spoken-word style. Born in California, he began performing as a dancer and entertainer before developing the persona “Lord Buckley,” delivering rhythmic, slang-rich reinterpretations of familiar stories and historical figures. His nightclub and concert appearances, along with widely circulated recordings, helped popularize a form of comic narration that blended beat cadence, satire, and improvisatory timing. Buckley’s performances influenced later stand-up, countercultural comedy, and spoken-word artists, and he remains a cult figure in American performance history.