Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Jason Fraley interviews Otis Williams, last surviving original member of The Temptations, which performs live at “A Capitol Fourth” in Washington D.C. tomorrow at 8 p.m. on PBS. They discuss classic Motown hits like “My Girl,” “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Get Ready” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” as well as evolving into a new era with “Cloud Nine,” “Ball of Confusion,” “Just My Imagination...

Jason Fraley interviews Heart's founding bass player Steve Fossen, who reunites with Heart drummer Michael DeRosier as the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers play the Dundalk Heritage Fair in Dundalk, Maryland this Saturday, July 5th. He calls in to discuss the band’s journey to create iconic hits like “Magic Man,” “Crazy on You” and “Barracuda.”  (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews bass player Tim Foreman of the band Switchfoot, which rocks the Hollywood Casino at Charles  Town Races in West Virginia on July 5th. They discuss the band’s journey to record hits like “Dare You to Move” and “Meant to Live.”  (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews jazz icon Dianne Reeves, who performs live at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia this Friday June 27th. She discusses her journey to win five Grammys, including for the soundtrack of George Clooney’s 2005 film “Good Night and Good Luck.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Lance Hoppen, longtime bass player of the classic pop-rock band Orleans, which performs live at Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland this Saturday, June 28th. They discuss the band’s journey to record timeless hits like “Dance with Me," "Still the One" and "Love Takes Time." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Mike Love, who fronts The Beach Boys at the Virginia Arts Festival this Sunday, a week after his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They spoke when the band played the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra in 2016. This episode is labeled "Part 2" because "Part 1" featured the late great Brian Wilson, who died last week at age 82....

Jason Fraley interviews Jimmy "Diamond" Williams, longtime drummer of The Ohio Players, as the funk-soul band rocks The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on June 21. They discuss the band's album covers and journey to record hits like "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley gets ready for National Theatre to stage “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of The Temptations” tomorrow through June 22nd in Washington D.C. He spoke with Tony nominee Jeremy Pope when the show made its East Coast premiere at the Kennedy Center in 2018 before moving to Broadway where it earned 12 Tony nominations, including Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Pope. (Theme Music:...

Jason Fraley interviews blues legend Buddy Guy, who performs live at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia on June 21st. He shares his journey from growing up in Louisiana to moving to Chicago to learn from Muddy Waters, wearing polka dots in honor of his mother, and being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Eric Clapton and B.B. King. You can even catch him in Ryan Coogler’s stylish new vampire...

Jason Fraley interviews James Blunt, who performs at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia on June 18th to mark the 20th anniversary of his breakthrough album “Back to Bedlam.” They discuss his journey from serving in the British military to recording the global smash hit “You’re Beautiful.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley wraps Tony Award season by chatting with prolific Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller about his new memoir “Theater Kid,” chronicling his journey to produce four Best Musical winners with “Rent,” “Avenue Q,” “In the Heights” and “Hamilton." Stick around until the end of the interview for a friendly game of Broadway vs. Hollywood savants, quizzing each other on what won Tonys and Oscars t...

Jason Fraley gets ready for tonight's Tony Awards by interviewing playwright Kimberly Bellflower about her play “John Proctor is the Villain,” reimagining Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" to earn 7 Tony nominations, including Best Play. They spoke when the show made its pre-Broadway premiere at Studio Theatre in Washington D.C. in 2022. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clari...

Jason Fraley interviews blues legend Taj Mahal, who performs with Keb Mo tomorrow at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. They discuss their "TajMo" collaborations, as well as Taj Mahal's career from recording tunes like "Statesboro Blues" to movie soundtracks like "Sounder." Did you know he's related to the late Cicely Tyson? (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's &quot...

Jason Fraley interviews writer/director Kevin Smith for the 25th anniversary re-release of the cult-classic comedy "Dogma," which returns to movie theaters this weekend. They discuss the making of the movie, the casting of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as fallen angels, and the overall legacy of Jay & Silent Bob. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews The Archies' lead singer Ron Dante, who now fronts The Turtles for the "Happy Together" tour at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on June 8-10. He also reflects on his career, from recording the bubblegum pop hit "Sugar, Sugar" to producing iconic records for Barry Manilow, then becoming a Tony-winning Broadway producer and TV theme-song scribe. (Theme Music: Scott Buck...

Jason Fraley interviews Gary Puckett & The Union Gap as the “Happy Together” tour hits The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on June 8-10. Puckett previews the show and shares memories of recording hits like “Woman, Woman,” “Young Girl” and “Lady Willpower.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Little Anthony as the “Happy Together” tour hits The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on June 8-10. He reflects on forming The Imperials for late ‘50s doo-wop hits like “Tears on My Pillow” before evolving into ‘60s soul and R&B for eventual induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks the 75th anniversary of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz taking their vaudeville act on the road in Chicago then New York City, inspiring CBS to give them their own sitcom with “I Love Lucy.” Jason interviewed their daughter Lucie Arnaz when she toured with “Pippin” at the National Theatre in Washington D.C. in 2014. Don’t miss their other chat about the best “I Love Lucy” episodes i...

Jason Fraley interviews Fastball lead singer Tony Scalzo as the alternative-rock band performs live at Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore, Maryland on June 8th. They discuss band’s journey to record hits like “The Way,” “Fire Escape,” “Out of My Head” and “You’re an Ocean.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews JET bass player Mark Wilson as the band rocks the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. on June 2. They discuss the band’s formation in Australia and eventual journey to record smash hits like “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” “Look What You’ve Done” and “Cold Hard Bitch.”  (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley interviews 38 Special co-founder and lead singer Don Barnes as the classic-rock band performs at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on June 7th. He describes helping bandmate Donnie Van Zant work through the grief of his brother’s fatal plane crash with Lynyrd Skynyrd to eventually record hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You” and “If I’d Been the One.” (Theme Music:...

Jason Fraley celebrates 30 years of the family sitcom “Full House," which aired its series finale on ABC on May 23, 1995. He spoke to Uncle Jesse when John Stamos rocked the “A Capitol Fourth” concert in Washington D.C. in 2017. You'll also hear the origin of his signature catchphrase "Have Mercy!" (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley previews Blood Sweat & Tears at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, Maryland on May 30 by speaking with longtime Band Manager Larry Dorr. They discuss the brass-rock band's evolution from Al Kooper to David Clayton-Thomas, from Jerry Fisher to its rotating members today, leaving us with beloved tunes like “Spinning Wheel” and “You Make Me So Very Happy.”  (Theme Music: Scott Buckley&#...

Jason Fraley interviews three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello, who stars in “Kimberly Akimbo” at National Theatre in Washington D.C. tomorrow through June 1st. She also reflects on her career on stage and screen, from Broadway's "Parade" to AMC's first original series "Remember WENN." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")

Jason Fraley marks the 30th anniversary of John O’Hurley's first appearance as J. Peterman in “Seinfeld" on May 18, 1995. They spoke when O'Hurley played hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn in the iconic musical “Chicago” at the National Theatre in Washington D.C. in 2015. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion")