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Inspired by events like Jay Leno’s free April concerts for unemployed people, comedian and morning radio host Rickey Smiley is looking to deliver a few good laughs to an economically pinched region.

The nationally syndicated Smiley, who airs weekday mornings on WHTD-FM (102.7) in Detroit, will lead the lineup at the free Jokes & Jamz Concert at 6 p.m. Sunday at Chene Park in Detroit.

Tickets for the show — which also will include a lineup of mostly local comics and musicians — are being given away through Saturday on contemporary urban station WHTD, which will dish out 2,000 ducats through listener call-ins and impromptu visits around the city.

On Thursday, 3,000 free tickets were distributed through the Chene Park box office; the entire allotment was gobbled up in a few hours.

The station, Chene Park producers and Smiley — who is known for his clean style of stand-up –were driven by the desire to give something back to struggling Detroiters, said Kathie Stonehouse, the marketing director for Radio One Detroit, which owns WHTD.

“At first, we were going to say you had to be unemployed,” Stonehouse said. “Then we just said, ‘Here’s something great for Detroit.’ “

Smiley will also broadcast his radio show live from 6-11 a.m. Monday at the McDonald’s at Mack and I-75 in Detroit.