A U.S. Marine Corps veteran comedian and an Army veteran stand-up performer are teaming up this Saturday to headline a comedy, music, and dance party in El Paso, with a portion of the proceeds going toward prostate cancer awareness. The Royal Court of Mu Beta Phi Military Fraternity, Incorporated Rho Chapter is hosting the event, called Giggles & Grooves, at Parker's on the Hill.
According to KVIA ABC-7, the party takes place Saturday, September 19, at Parker's on the Hill, located at 7600 Alabama Street in El Paso. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the comedy performance kicking off at 8 p.m., followed by music and dancing. Tickets run $35 each or $60 for a pair, and organizers are asking guests to wear light blue, the designated color for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
The event's headliner is Tommy Black, described in the station's report as a U.S. Army veteran, stand-up comedian, radio personality, and DJ who has used comedy to support community causes. Also on the bill is Robert “Buck D” Gipson, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and comedian, with King T serving as host for the evening. The fraternity's contact email for the event, [email protected], is listed for anyone with questions.
Why Veterans Are Leading the Charge
El Paso's military footprint makes the cause personal for many attendees. The county is home to Fort Bliss, which supports more than 38,500 active-duty personnel alongside roughly 83,000 local veterans, according to MilitaryINSTALLATIONS. That concentration of service members and veterans helps explain why a veteran-focused fraternity like Mu Beta Phi has made prostate cancer its focus this month.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among U.S. military veterans, with approximately 15,000 veterans diagnosed each year. The stakes are especially high for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other toxic herbicides during service, since the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs classifies prostate cancer as a presumptive service-connected disability for those veterans, automatically assigning a 100% disability rating during active treatment.
Mu Beta Phi Military Fraternity, Inc. was founded on March 22, 2017, in Columbia, South Carolina, and has since grown to 26 chapters internationally to foster brotherhood and community service among active-duty, reserve, and veteran military personnel, according to Wikipedia. Saturday's event is part of the fraternity's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month initiatives.
A Disease on the Rise Nationally
The event takes place in September. ZERO Prostate Cancer lists roughly 333,830 new prostate cancer cases in the United States in 2026, along with an estimated 36,320 deaths. Prostate cancer incidence and advanced-stage diagnoses are also part of the broader discussion.
The disease also carries a significant racial disparity. Black men in the United States are nearly 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it compared with white men, per 2026 American Cancer Society reporting. Screening discussions are mentioned for men between ages 45 and 50.
The Burden Closer to Home
Texas carries its own share of the disease. State health estimates show more than 20,000 Texas men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually, while ZERO Prostate Cancer's Texas facts sheet reports 2,360 prostate cancer deaths. The disease's burden is also discussed in regional and national terms.
Those numbers underscore why community-driven efforts like Giggles & Grooves matter to organizers. Saturday's party blends entertainment with a cause that touches a large share of El Paso's population, pairing comedy from veterans like Black and Gipson with a broader push to get men talking about screening and early detection.
