Tulsa, OK, radio announcers Brent Douglas and Phil Stone created the character of Roy D. Mercer as a hillbilly variation on the Jerky Boys -- a comedian whose act is entirely based on prank phone calls. Mercer rose from obscurity in 1997, when he graduated from a featured bit on the duo's radio show to a contract with Capitol Records. Two Mercer albums -- How Big 'a Boy Are Ya?, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 -- were released simultaneously in February, and other volumes in the series soon followed on a regular and prolific basis. The duo broke away from the series in 2001 with the New York City-hatin' Roy D. Mercer vs. Yankees. Family Album from 2002 returned to the How Big 'a Boy Are Ya? format. Hits the Road (2003), Get Well Soon (2004), and Black & Blue (2006) stayed the course. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
