Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley

Jason Fraley interviews hip-hop legend Ice Cube, who performs at the Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, Maryland on Oct. 11. They discuss his career from N.W.A. hits like “Straight Outta Compton” to solo hits like “It Was a Good Day,” as well as his film career from dramas like “Boyz N The Hood” to comedies like “Friday," not to mention his Oscar-nominated N.W.A. biopic. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley'...

Jason Fraley interviews Grammy-winning soul artist Bilal, who performs live at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia on Oct. 11. They break down his entire career from his breakthrough album “1st Born Second” to his Kendrick Lamar collaboration on “To Pimp a Butterfly” to his newest album “Adjust Brightness.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

Jason Fraley interviews Grammy winner Bruce Hornsby, who performs live at Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. this Saturday night. He discusses growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia, before recording breakthrough hits like “Every Little Kiss” and “The Way It Is,” which would later become 2Pac’s “Changes.” He also describes co-writing Don Henley’s “The End of the Innocence” before versatile collaborat...

Jason Fraley interviews country music duo Maddie & Tae, which performs live at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland this Friday night. They both called in together to describe how their friendship has helped each other tackle the challenges of recent motherhood, as well as breaking down their biggest hits like “Girl in a Country Song,” “Shut Up and Fish” and “Die from a Broken Heart.” (Theme Mu...

Jason Fraley interviews drummer Carl Palmer, the last surviving member of the iconic progressive-rock band Emerson Lake & Palmer, which brings “The Return of Emerson Lake & Palmer Tour" to Maryland Hall in Annapolis, Maryland this Thursday night! They discuss the band's most timeless hits, including "Lucky Man," "From the Beginning," “Fanfare for the Common Man” and "Peter Gunn," as well as the po...

Jason Fraley interviews The Fray drummer Ben Wysocki as the band releases its first new album in 10 years with “The Fray is Back" on Sept. 27, kicking off a comeback tour on the same day at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington D.C. Wysocki breaks down the band's biggest hits like “Over My Head (Cable Car),” “How to Save a Life,” “You Found Me," "Never Say Never" and "Heartbeat." (Theme Music: Scott B...

"Beyond the Fame" host Jason Fraley marks the 10th anniversary of the TV political drama "Madam Secretary," which premiered exactly 10 years ago on Sept. 21, 2014 on CBS. He spoke to the cast and creators during the red carpet premiere at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington D.C. You'll hear from Téa Leoni, Morgan Freeman, Tim Daly, Keith Carradine and Sebastian Arcelus. (Theme Music: Scott B...

"Beyond the Fame" host Jason Fraley interviews Sevendust frontman Lajon Witherspoon as the band rocks The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland this Saturday night. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Grammy winner Meghan Trainor, who brings her "Timeless" tour to Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia on Tuesday, Sept. 17. She calls in alongside her touring partner Chris Olsen, who grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland is excited to return home to perform in the DMV. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews The Band Perry alum Kimberly Perry, who brings her first solo tour to Annapolis, Maryland this Sunday night for the Annapolis Songwriters Festival. They discuss her journey from Band Perry hits like “If I Die Young” and “Better Dig Two” to jamming with Fall Out Boy at CMT’s “Crossroads” and now her first solo album “Superbloom.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Jökull Júlíusson, lead singer and songwriter of Kaleo, which performs live at The Anthem in Washington D.C. on Monday, Sept. 16. They discuss the band's journey from growing up in Iceland to touring the biggest music festivals in the world thanks to the chart-topping blues-rock hit "Way Down We Go" and the Grammy-nominated rock track "No Good." (Theme Music: Scott Bu...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews three-time Grammy winner Debby Boone, who performs live at Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Saturday, Sept. 21. They discuss her journey from growing up the daughter of singer Pat Boone to winning Best New Artist with her breakthrough hit “You Light Up My life" before eventually showing her range across pop, country, gospel and beyond. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley'...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Lake Street Dive drummer Mike Calabrese as the band celebrates its 20th anniversary at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland on Friday. They discuss the band’s journey from hits like “Good Kisser” to its newest album “Good Together.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews actor Michael Imperioli as the new two-part “Sopranos” docuseries “Wise Guy” premieres this weekend on HBO and Max. They hopped on the phone in April 2020, a month into the pandemic, when Imperioli launched his “Sopranos” watch-along podcast “Talking Sopranos.” They also discussed his early role in Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas." (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clario...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Tony-winning hair stylist Nikiya Mathis, who just became the first artist to ever win a Special Tony Award for hair and wig design on the Broadway play "Jaja's African Hair Braiding," which arrives at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. today. They discuss her pioneering work in this groundbreaking stage comedy. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about yo...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan as the iconic classic rockers ignite Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia this Saturday night. They discuss the band's biggest hits from “Highway Star” to “Smoke on the Water" en route to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Grammy winner Rob Thomas, who performs live with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. this Friday night. They preview the epic concert, as well as reflect on his biggest hits from Matchbox Twenty to his solo career. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Mercedes Moné (a.k.a. Sasha Banks), who defends her NJPW Strong Women’s Championship tonight at “Capital Collision” at the Sports & Entertainment Arena in Washington D.C. They preview the event as well as her history-making matches in WWE and her current run as the AEW TBS Champion, having just defended the title Sunday at Wembley Stadium. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews beloved D.C. go-go band Rare Essence, which headlines the Summer Soul Music Festival this Sunday at the Charles County Fairgrounds in La Plata, Maryland. They discuss the band's journey from meeting each other in elementary school to carving out a place on the proverbial Mount Rushmore of D.C. go-go bands. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about you...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews three-time Grammy winner Samara Joy, who rocks The Anthem in Washington D.C. this Friday night for the 20th annual D.C. Jazz Festival. They discuss her meteoric rise to fame, including Grammys for Best Jazz Performance for “Tight,” Best Jazz Vocal Album for “Linger Awhile,” and of course Best New Artist of 2023, joining the ranks of Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Megan The...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Grammy nominee Jordin Sparks, who performs live at The Atlantis in Washington D.C. on Thursday night. They discuss her journey from winning Season 6 of "American Idol" to recording smash radio hits like "Tattoo" and "Battlefield," as well as starring in movies like "Sparkle" and Broadway shows like "Waitress," en route to her new album "No Restrictions." (Theme Music...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Broadway star Corey Cott as today marks the 10th anniversary of the musical "Newsies" closing on Broadway on Aug. 24, 2014. Cott took a bow as Jack Kelly, having replaced Jeremy Jordan less than five months into the original Broadway run. Cott joined WTOP in 2018 to perform “West Side Story: In Concert" at the Kennedy Center alongside Solea Pfeiffe...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews renowned classical pianist Lara Downes, who releases her new album “This Land” today after her last album earned her the title of 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today. Downes called WTOP in 2019 when she visited Sixth & I in Washington D.C. to perform songs from her album “Holes in the Sky,” alongside Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens. (Theme Music: Sco...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews TV's "Wonder Woman" star Lynda Carter, who will be be honored at the Kennedy Center concert on Sunday, followed by a conference at the National Housing Center in Washington D.C. on Monday for Women's Equality Day. Carter joined WTOP at four consecutive Kennedy Center Honors from 2014-2017. You'll also hear from Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of the non-profit...

WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Rome Ramirez as Sublime With Rome brings its farewell tour to The Hall at Live! Casino & Hotel in Arundel Mills, Maryland exactly one week from today on Aug. 28. They discuss his swan song with the band before forging ahead solo, as well as the legacy of Sublime's biggest hits like "Doin' Time," "Santeria," "What I Got" and "Caress Me Down." (Theme Music: Scott Buckl...