Comedian Velly Vel

Phillip LaVell Harris (a.k.a “Velly Vel – “Big Belly-n-All) was born April 1, 1972. Originally a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, his family would eventually relocate to Bristow. It was there, in this small town of approx. 6500 (pop.), that the aspiring entertainer would spend his formal years inspired by the likes of Richard Pryor, Bernie Mac and Cedric the Entertainer. As a kid he was full of pranks and often utilized the school cafeteria as a stage to challenge his friends to rap battles and playing the “dozens.” At age 13, he and several friends would take 1st place at a school talent show for their rendition of a popular Fat Boys’ song. It was during this time that young LaVell’s comedic genius and ability to make light of sensitive subjects, like racism, begin to flourish. He formed a hip hop group-the “OREO”. In time, his humor and husky figure earned him his nickname.

By 1989 the 17 year-old Velly Vel “Big Belly-n-All” was ready to up the ante. He took a chance and entered a statewide jingle contest for the ‘Don’t Lay That Trash on Oklahoma” campaign. Vel’s song was a hit! In a landslide victory, “Clean

Up the Streets” won the contest. Over the course of the next year he began to emerge as a young entertainer. He took to acting like a fish to water and earned a position in yet another statewide competition. Undoubtedly, Velly Vel was on his way to becoming a professional entertainer. Yet, there were detours.In 1993 Velly Vel found himself succumbing to the lure of the drug game. This would eventually land him a 2 1⁄2 year prison stint. It was then, while incarcerated, that he told himself that the street life was not for him.