Johnny Remick

From working as a paper boy for the Jamestown Post-Journal, to making a living as a stand-up comic, to rubbing elbows with Hollywood celebrities, to settling down in the coast of Maine, Johnny Remick has truly been “Here, There, and All Over the Place…” And everywhere he’s gone, he’s brought his unique brand of humor with him, to share with all those lucky enough to meet him.

In Remick’s words:

“Nearly 55 years I have lived coast

to coast — California to Maine,

and have realized that being a little

‘batty’ has truly kept me sane.”

The one-time Fredonia high-schooler who’s father, Reverend Doctor Oscar E. Remick, was the president of the Chautauqua Institution from 1971 to 1976, has released a new, uplifting, inspiring, humorous book that showcases Remick’s original insights and witicisms and contains a little something for everyone.

Part Rumi mixed in with a tablespoon of Oscar Wilde, and a pinch of Swami Beyondananda, “Here, There, and All Over the Place…” is filled with “quips, quotes and ‘quosters'” that swing from the silly to the profound, the hilarious to the tearjerker from one verse to the next.

In many ways, a book like Remick’s is just what the doctor ordered in this time of divisive toxicity so rampant on social media.

Some of Remick’s verse directly addresses the right/left hostility, as in this crafty, clever and humbling piece of writing:

“At times our passion and patriotism for

our individual political parties is more

like bash’n and “hate-riotism” to

our own fellow American brethren.”

Remick has an answer to the “hate-riotism”:

“To be better instead of bitter

makes life so much sweeter.”

Remick is all about “Peace, love, harmony and good vibes,” telling the OBSERVER that “I’ve always transcended to that even when I was a kid.”

Remick, who spent 18 years as a stand-up, touring the country, including in Chautauqua County, believes comedy, like the tone of the discourse in this country, has turned too tribally political.

“I don’t like to get political and people don’t know what side of the aisle I’m on. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on; if you’re educated and you can talk to me and we can break bread, drink a beer and agree to disagree, lets’ get civil about this. We are one nation we should act like it. Love one another, embrace people. Let’s take care of not just our country. This is only one world, one shot, let’s not mess it up.”

For Remick, the best way to mend differences is through humor, a humor of solidarity.

“Comedy and humor and feeling good that’s constant, that’s infinite. A few years ago I started writing and sharing my own personal stuff from Groucho Marx to Socrates from Wayne Dyer and Mark Twain, Will Rogers and Mr. Rogers. It morphed into my own message and I thought, if I’m going to write a book it’s got to be now.”

Diagnosed with cancer two years ago, Remick says that writing the book last winter is what got him through battling both the disease and the cold.

Remick has a saying for almost every aspect of his life. When characterizing his transition from comic to writer, Remick said “I used to have a microphone and a stage, now I have a pen and the page.”

Remick has been dealing with his cancer the same way he’s dealt with everything in his life.

“My answer to cancer is humor for the tumor,” Remick said. “Cancer is my dysfunctional relationship. I don’t get it, I just know I got it. I don’t want it, and I don’t want anyone else to have it.”

An example of some of his verse that bends more towards the profound than the funny:

“Nobody can define

me, but me. And this

definition is not

definitive,

but rather like me,

Forever changing”

“Life: we’ve been given it,

we need to be livin’ it.

Our soul may know our

time to go but our human

side, most likely not.

Some of us are gifted

with a wakeup call,

with no more snooze-time

to be bought.”

Although he has rubbed elbows with the likes of Johnny Depp, Jennifer Aniston, Ozzy Osbourne, Sher — and even become good friends with such figures as Elton John and Adam Sandler — Remick says he’ll always remember the amazing times and friends he’s made in Chautauqua County.

“I made a lot of friendships and memories there,” Remick said. “Chautauqua Lake was magic, living on that water. It was a charmed life back then. “

When attending Fredonia High School, Remick met and became instant friends with a boy named Andy Ludwig, who would later grow up to become a teacher at Fredonia Middle School and later its principal.

The two remain close friends.

“We are taught by thought,

not just words…and we

do not always need our

vocal chords, for our

voice to be heard.” — Johnny Remick

To purchase or to find more information about Remick’s “Here, There, and All Over the Place…”, go to www.johnnyremick.com.

Find him on facebook: www.facebook.com/makearightturnforpeace/

Many of Johnny’s quips, quotes, and “quosters” can be purchased on various gift items (Tee-shirts, coffee mugs, stationery and other cool stuff) At www.cafepress.com/coolstuffmartfp.