Cheech & Chong

Cheech & Chong are a Grammy Award-winning comedy duo consisting of Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong. They are known for their stand-up routines, comedy albums, and feature films that center around the hippie and free love era, and especially the counterculture movement, most notably their love for cannabis.

Early Life

Cheech Marin

Richard "Cheech" Marin was born on July 13, 1946, in Los Angeles, California. He is of Mexican-American descent and grew up in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood. Marin attended California State University, Northridge, where he majored in English.

Tommy Chong

Tommy Chong was born on May 24, 1938, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is of Chinese and Scottish-Irish descent. Chong moved to Vancouver during his teenage years and later became a naturalized United States citizen.

Career

Formation

Cheech & Chong met in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the late 1960s. They began performing stand-up comedy together, focusing on the counterculture movement and the hippie lifestyle. Their routines often included satirical takes on the Vietnam War, politics, and the drug culture of the time.

Comedy Albums

The duo released their first comedy album, Cheech and Chong, in 1971. The album was a commercial success and was followed by several more albums, including Big Bambu (1972), Los Cochinos (1973), and Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album (1974). Their album Los Cochinos won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 1974.

Films

Cheech & Chong transitioned to film with their first movie, Up in Smoke, released in 1978. The film was a major success and became a cult classic. They followed up with several more films, including Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980), Nice Dreams (1981), and Still Smokin (1983).

Breakup and Reunion

The duo split in the mid-1980s to pursue solo careers. Cheech Marin went on to have a successful acting career, appearing in films such as Born in East L.A. and the Spy Kids series. Tommy Chong continued to work in comedy and acting, appearing in films like After Hours and the television series That '70s Show.

Cheech & Chong reunited in 2008 for a comedy tour titled "Light Up America." They have since continued to perform together and have released new material, including the animated film Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie in 2013.

Legacy

Cheech & Chong are considered pioneers of stoner comedy and have influenced numerous comedians and filmmakers. Their work remains popular, and they are celebrated for their contributions to comedy and the counterculture movement.

Discography

• Cheech and Chong (1971)
• Big Bambu (1972)
• Los Cochinos (1973)
• Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album (1974)
• Sleeping Beauty (1976)

Filmography

• Up in Smoke (1978)
• Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980)
• Nice Dreams (1981)
• Still Smokin (1983)
• Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984)

See Also

• Counterculture of the 1960s
• Stoner film
• Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album