Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Ronnie Platt of Kansas, which rocks Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia on Dec. 19. They discussed the band's unlikely rise from out of nowhere in Topeka, Kansas to land smash hits like "Carry On Wayward Son," "Point of Know Return" and "Dust in the Wind." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Motown founder Berry Gordy, who is being honored this weekend at the 44th annual Kennedy Center Honors. They spoke in 2015 alongside director Charles Randolph-Wright when “Motown the Musical” hit National Theatre in Washington D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with David Freiberg of Jefferson Starship, which plays The Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, Maryland on Dec. 7. They spoke about the band's evolution from Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" to Jefferson Starship's "Miracles" to Starship's "We Built This City." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with the hilarious Carol Burnett, who earned a Golden Globe nod in the 1982 film "Annie," which is being revived tonight on NBC. They discussed her iconic career, including "The Carol Burnett Show," when she brought "An Evening of Laughter & Reflection" to Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland in 2019. (Theme Music:...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers, who perform Friday and Saturday at Bethesda Blues & Jazz. They spoke in 2017 during a Wolf Trap tribute to what would have been the 75th birthday of Jimi Hendrix. You'll also hear from Hendrix's cousin, Nona Hendryx. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Mannheim Steamroller drummer Tom Sharpe as the band plays Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday night. They discuss the group's revolutionary synthesizer Christmas music to reimagine hits like "Deck the Halls" and "Carol of the Bells." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with best-selling author Mitch Albom, who visits Theater J in Washington D.C. tomorrow to discuss his new book "The Stranger in the Lifeboat." He also discusses his roots as a sportswriter before penning "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "The Five People You Meet in Heaven." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with music legend Tony Bennett, who joins Lady Gaga for a special "One Last Time" concert tonight on CBS. They spoke in 2017 when Bennett received the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at DAR Constitution Hall. You'll also hear red-carpet tributes from Gloria Estefan, Chris Botti, Josh Groban and even Bruce Willis. Learn more about...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Richard Thomas ("The Waltons") and Pamela Reed ("Parks & Rec") about the Thanksgiving play "The Humans," which won Tonys on Broadway in 2016 and came to the Kennedy Center in 2018. It's now being adapted into an Oscar contender in movie theaters today. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of legendary underwater filmmaker Jacques Cousteau, who is chronicled this week in the new Disney+ documentary "Becoming Cousteau." They spoke in 2016 when Jean-Michel's National Geographic documentary "Secret Ocean" played at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with five-time Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal, whose latest score is featured in Oliver Stone's documentary "JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass" tonight on Showtime. They spoke in 2016 when Beal came to the Kennedy Center to perform his “House of Cards” score with the National Symphony Orchestra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Sisqo and Tao of the R&B group Dru Hill, which released its debut album 25 years ago this weekend. They spoke when the group played D.C.’s Howard Theatre in 2016, discussing their humble beginnings singing while making fudge in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with comedian Joel McHale, who celebrates his 50th birthday today! They spoke in 2017 about McHale's memoir, as well as memories of hosting "The Soup" on E! and starring in "Community" on NBC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with legendary late-night talk show host Dick Cavett, who celebrates his 85th birthday today! They spoke in 2015 about Cavett's must-read book "Brief Encounters," featuring priceless anecdotes from his decades of interviewing celebrities on television. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "Tony Kornheiser Show" personality Marc Sterne (a.k.a. Nigel) about the 10th anniversary of the time he fooled Hollywood with his Christopher Walken impersonation on the D.C. radio airwaves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with comedian Paula Poundstone, who cracks up The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia this weekend on Nov. 19-21, 2021. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Motown legend Smokey Robinson, who performs live at MGM National Harbor near Washington D.C. on Saturday night. Smokey discusses growing up in Detroit and forming The Miracles to become Motown's first successful act with hits like "Shop Around," "You Really Got a Hold on Me," "Ooo Baby Baby," "Tracks of My Tears" and "The Tears of a Clown." Learn...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with the Brothers Osborne, who just won at the CMAs before rocking The Anthem this Friday in Washington D.C. They discuss growing up in Deale, Maryland, moving to Nashville for a string of hits, and what it was like for T.J. becoming the first openly gay country singer on a major label. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoi...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with "King Richard" director Reinaldo Marcus Green and actor Jon Bernthal about why this movie provides Will Smith a chance to finally win an Oscar as the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley and colleague Chris Cichon chat with "The Hangover" alum Ken Jeong, who will be inducted today into the Asian Hall of Fame. They spoke in 2017 during the release of his ABC sitcom "Dr. Ken," alongside co-star Suzy Nakamura. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley celebrates Veterans Day weekend by sharing this 2019 conversation with "1917" director Sam Mendes ("American Beauty") and screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns about constructing a war flick that unfolds with the illusion of one long single-take. You'll also hear from actors George MacKay ("Captain Fantastic") and Dean-Charles Chapman ("Game of Thrones"). Learn...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley marks Veterans Day by sharing this 2015 conversation with Bradley Cooper at the Washington D.C. premiere of Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper." Cooper discusses playing the late U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who was hailed as the deadliest sniper in U.S. history. You'll also hear a 2018 exchange with Cooper discussing his directorial debut, "A Star is Born." L...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley celebrates tomorrow's release of the "Rocky IV" director's cut by chatting with Dolph Lundgren, who played Rocky Balboa's Soviet nemesis Ivan Drago. They spoke in 2015 during the release of "Creed" and Lundgren's WWII film "War Pigs." You'll also hear a 2018 chat with "Creed II" director Steven Caple Jr. and Florian Munteanu, who played Drago's son. Learn m...

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with musician Ben Folds, who performs live at the Kennedy Center next Monday, Nov. 15. They discuss his radio hit "Brick," his animated film work in "Over the Hedge," about his rewarding role as the National Symphony Orchestra's first-ever Artistic Advisor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with UB40 singer Astro, who died today after a short illness at age 64. They spoke when the band played Strathmore in 2016, breaking down the band's biggest reggae-pop hits from "Red Red Wine" to "Can't Help Falling in Love." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices