Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Jason Fraley interviews acclaimed actress, filmmaker and author Issa Rae, who brings her “I Should Be Smarter By Now" book tour to DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. tomorrow night. She also dishes on her prolific career, including “Awkward Black Girl,” “Insecure,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “The Lovebirds,” “Barbie” and “American Fiction.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clari...

Jason Fraley interviews Emmy-nominated music composer Antonio Sanchez, who’s nominated for scoring the Apple TV+ comedy series “The Studio” at the 77th annual Emmy Awards this Sunday on CBS. He also breaks down his five Grammy wins for his prolific jazz career, as well as creating the drum-based score for the Oscar-winning film “Birdman" by Alejandro González Iñárritu. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley'...

Jason Fraley interviews Iron Maiden’s iconic frontman Bruce Dickinson, who brings his solo tour to The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland this Sunday night. They discuss his latest solo albums “The Mandrake Project” and “More Balls to Picasso,” as well as his favorite comic books, getting his pilot’s license, launching his own beer called The Trooper, and singing the National Anthem for the Pitts...

Jason Fraley interviews 10,000 Maniacs founding bass player Steven Gustafson as the band rocks Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland in a pair of sold-out shows this Saturday and Sunday for the Annapolis Songwriters Festival. They discuss the band’s journey from recording hits like “These Are Days” and their MTV Unplugged cover of “Because the Night,” before replacing lead singer Natalie Merchant with...

Jason Fraley interviews Grammy winner Sheena Easton, who performs live at Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on September 9th. They reflect on her biggest hits, including “Modern Girl,” “9 to 5 (Morning Train)” and the James Bond theme “For Your Eyes Only.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews comedian Sam Jay, who cracks up the D.C. Improv in Washington D.C. this Friday and Saturday nights. They preview the standup show and reflect on her comedy career, from “Saturday Night Live” to “The Roast of Tom Brady.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Sister Hazel's longtime drummer Mark Trojanowski as the band rocks the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia on September 19th. They discuss the band’s journey to create beloved songs like “All For You,” “Change Your Mind,” “Your Winter” and “Champagne High.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Grammy winner Marcus Miller, who performs this Saturday at the D.C. Jazz Festival, which runs Wednesday through Sunday at The Wharf in Washington D.C. They discuss his prolific career working with Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Beyonce, as well as TV shows like “Saturday Night Live” and movies like Spike Lee’s...

Jason Fraley interviews Johnny Van Zant, current lead singer of the Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, which rocks The Hall at Live! Casino & Hotel in Arundel Mills, Maryland on Aug. 31. He shares memories of his late brother Ronnie Van Zant and why he enjoys performing iconic hits like “Free Bird,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Simple Man.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews former ELO violinist Mik Kaminski and ELO Part II members Eric Troyer and Parthenon Huxley as their band The Orchestra rocks Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. on Sept. 11. They discuss ELO's various lineups over the years for a body of work that includes the “10538 Overture,” “Evil Woman,” “Do Ya,” “Telephone Line,” “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “Four Little Diamonds.” (Theme M...

Jason Fraley interviews Oscar winner Melissa Leo about her new dramatic thriller “The Knife,” starring NFL Pro Bowler Nnamdi Asomugha in his directorial debut. Leo discusses her role as the detective, as well as her previous roles in “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Prisoners” and her Oscar-winning role in “The Fighter.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews five-time Grammy winner Mary Chapin Carpenter, who performs at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia this Saturday. They discuss her earliest open-mic nights in Washington D.C., how The Birchmere helped her get signed by Nashville and how a Bethesda dance club inspired her song “Down at the Twist & Shout,” kicking off a string of country hits like “I Feel Lucky,” “Passionate Ki...

Jason Fraley interviews four-time Grammy winner Lyle Lovett, who performs live tonight at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. He called in to preview the show and reflect on the best songs of his career from “Cowboy Man” to “If I Had a Boat," as well as working with filmmakers like Robert Redford, Robert Altman and Terry Gilliam. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act being signed into law on August 6, 1965. It’s the perfect day to bring back his 2018 conversation with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Micah Fink when he was crowd-funding for his civil rights documentary “The Power of Protest” where actor Danny Glover chimed in as an official adviser to the film.  (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Cl...

Jason Fraley interviews actor and comedian Ben Schwartz, who brings his improv tour “Ben Schwartz & Friends” to MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on September 6th. They preview the show and reflect on his hilarious career from “Parks & Rec” to “The Afterparty" to “Sonic the Hedgehog.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Charlotte Flair about the new Netflix docuseries “WWE Unreal,” showing behind-the-scenes footage of her returning from injury to win the “Royal Rumble." They also discuss John Cena turning heel at “Elimination Chamber,” allowing him to defeat Cody Rhodes at “WrestleMania” to break her father Ric Flair’s record of 16 world titles. They offer some alternate storylines an...

Jason Fraley celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Wayans Brothers’ hilarious spoof “Scary Movie,” which opened in July 2000, while this October will mark the 25th anniversary of the chilling drama "Requiem for a Dream." He discussed both movies with Marlon Wayans back in 2017 when he called in to promote his Netflix original comedy “Naked” and his NBC sitcom “Marlon.”  (Theme Music: Sc...

Jason Fraley celebrates “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” at National Theatre in Washington D.C. now through Sept. 7th. He spoke with actor John Skelley, who understudied the part of Harry Potter on Broadway before taking over the role on the national tour. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Bill Farmer, the longtime voice of Goofy, ahead of the "Disney ‘80s & ’90s Celebration” at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia this Saturday. Farmer reflects on classic Disney cartoons by his predecessors, as well as his own work in “Goof Troop," "A Goofy Movie," “House of Mouse” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” which returns for an all new version this week...

Jason Fraley welcomes The Bacon Brothers to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia this Friday and Saturday by reviving this flashback interview with Michael and Kevin Bacon from their previous show at The Birchmere back in 2016. Stay tuned until the end where they discuss Kevin's most famous movie roles. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley catches up with Three Dog Night co-founder Danny Hutton as the classic-rock band returns to The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on July 29. He shares his incredible life story in Hollywood, including lifelong friendships with Brian Wilson and Elton John. He also shares how the band came to record hits like “Mama Told Me (Not to Come),” “Joy to the World,” “Never Been to Spain,” “Bla...

Jason Fraley celebrates "Stranger Things" as Netflix drops the first teaser trailer for the fifth and final season today. Here's a flashback convo with actress Cara Buono, who plays Karen Wheeler, back when she appeared at a minor league baseball game in Maryland to promote Season 3 in 2019. She also remembers her roles on "Mad Men" and "The Sopranos." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley celebrates the 10th anniversary of "Hamilton," which premiered on Broadway for its first preview at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on July 13, 2015. You'll hear a pair of convos with creator Lin-Manuel Miranda from the 2016 National Archives’ Records of Achievement Award and 2018 Kennedy Center Honors. You'll also hear from Director Thomas Kail and co-star Leslie Odom Jr., who played Ham...

Jason Fraley interviews filmmaker Christian Swegal about his new action crime thriller “Sovereign," which opens in movie theaters nationwide today, starring Nick Offerman, Jacob Tremblay and Dennis Quaid. They discuss his approach to writing the script and making his directorial debut, as well his favorite filmmakers from Sidney Lumet to Michael Mann. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews two-time Emmy winner Eric Stonestreet, who hilariously played Cam on “Modern Family" and now stars in the new crime-drama sequel series “Dexter Resurrection,” which premieres this Friday on Paramount+ with Showtime. He also shares how he and his mother Jamie have become spokespeople for treating Type 2 diabetes. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")