Hmm.. Easy and boring answer.

I was an actor, very brielfy, in <gags> high school.  I did my one-man
rendition/recital of "The Masque of the Red Death."

Many in the audience and the faculty thought I was very good...
Especially the two freshmen that had to be given oxygen when then
hyperventilated from fright.

The name stuck, in that it became an almost actual name.

To tell you the embarassing truth, I answer to "Red" nowadays much
faster than I do to my given name.  Nearly ten years of being called
"Red" will do that to ya.

Just my few cents worth, if you're interested. 
-- 
"Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk?"
--
Red Death
Reddeath@lvdi.net