https://youtu.be/-7G1geVG6hE




Our guest is Nicole Mattox, a super star Vertical Drama actress on a fast rise to fame. She is also the daughter of a famous newscaster. We featured Nicole’s mom, Leslie Mouton, a few episodes back. Leslie was a San Antonio KSAT news anchor who became known worldwide for documenting her battle with cancer. One night during the height of her treatment she did the evening newscast sans her wig. She wanted to let people in treatment, and in life, know that your hair did not define you or your cancer. Next thing she knew she was on Oprah, Good Morning America, featured in magazines and was being celebrated around the world.



Her daughter Nicole is just as stunning as her mom, just as full of energy and life as Leslie and so just as fun to talk with. So talk we did… We talk with Nicole about what it was like growing up as the daughter of a local San Antonio news anchor. About being the daughter of a former Air Force fighter pilot who happened to have been stationed in Myrtle Beach in the 80s. One was almost impossible to escape and the other made days on the lake more exciting. We talk about moving to LA, about what path lead to acting and who some of her dream co-stars are.



As a former film, tv producer and part time actor, I really loved learning about the Vertical Film / Drama world. Nicole is the winner of the 2025 “Vertical Queen Award”, aka best actress award. I have a great teacher to walk me through this hot media trend. Some of these verticals have over 3 million views and huge international audiences. I have to admit I get drawn in as I’m scrolling. I have even watched some of Nicole’s before I knew who she was.



The more I started following Nicole’s social media accounts the more fascinated I became. She has an amazing loyal and fast growing fan base. Let’s hope they all share Nicole’s episode and subscribe to Relatively Famous!



Not only has Nicole won the Vertical Queen Award, she and co-star Seth Edeen were nominated for the “Best Chemistry” award also.



As a super cool bonus Seth Edeen was in the studio during our recording and I asked him to sit down and join Nicole during the last 5 mins of the show. I can see why they were nominated for best chemistry!



https://www.instagram.com/nicolemattoxhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm11476913/https://www.tiktok.com/@nicole_mattoxhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578345971247https://www.facebook.com/seo.shine.2024



#verticaldrama #verticalvideo #verticalfilms #nicolemattox #sethedeen #KSAT #fighterpilot #myrtlebeach #myrtlebeachairforcebase #lesliemouton #queenaward

https://youtu.be/Tjks9ZlehOI




My friend Christy Crandall, a producer in the Santa Rosa film community suggested I look into the actor Cayman Cardiff. She informed me that Cayman is a popular actor in the fast growing Vertical Video / Film trend and that his mom, September Cardiff, is awesome and would be a great guest.



Cayman is on the rise and cusp of Hollywood / Film fame, and having September on is kind of like Episode #15 with John Iseman – Madison Iseman’s dad. Both episodes are fun perspectives of life when their child is becoming a movie star.



With Cayman’s career, there is a rapidly growing trend and huge audience in the Vertical Video / Film market. To fans of these internet sensations, Cayman Cardiff is a big star. Vertical Video / Film fans love him in “Under the Hood” and “A Vampire in the Alpha’s Den” among others. As an actor Vertical Video / Film is a shooting star to the top of the fame game these days.



So I texted September, we chatted and she was on board.



Once I learned what September does for her career I knew she would be fun and full of energy. September has this amazing live production that she takes to libraries and schools all over Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia and places in-between to promote reading.



Her productions includes puppets, magic, songs and interactive fun to encourage and engage young people in the joys of reading. She also is an author of children’s books, see the link below to learn more.



I don’t know why, but I was surprised when she told me was a scholarship awarded basketball player in college. So I asked her, how tall are you?



September is also a BOYMOM of four, so she had a lot to chat about. Cayman and his brothers were recruited at an early age to help mom in her productions and commercials. She believes that is where the acting bug started, even though Cayman was on the path to being an Orthopedic Surgeon before modeling and acting became his profession.



After the basketball comment, I had to ask about the boys heights… 6’2” to 6’6”, with Cayman being 6’4”.



To mom’s surprise baby brother Tazman, has moved to LA and is following Cayman’s footsteps to also pursue an acting career. I’m sure we’ll see them acting together in brother / buddy movie in the near future. Are you listening Hollywood writers?



September was even forgiving of me when I flubbed a credit of Cayman’s right at the beginning of the interview. I actually looked Cayman’s credits up, but at the same time researched another actor’s IMDb. Well, I flipped them in my interview.



No edits, foot in mouth, AGAIN… I own my mistakes and another vertical video series got a shout out.



Learn more about September’s reading programs and books by clicking her links below.



www.temberstales.comhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm13604121/https://www.instagram.com/caymancardiff/https://www.facebook.com/caymancardifftalent/



temberstales@gmail.com



#verticalfilms #reading #childrensbooks #collegebasketball #actor #verticalvideo #caymancardiff #september #kentucky #library #southcarolina #georgia

https://youtu.be/aMZur8zjfsg




Karen Knotts father was the top notch, first rate, five time Emmy winner, comedic actor known around the world as Deputy Barney Fife, Leader of the Apple Dumpling Gang, The Incredible Mr. Limpet and Three’s Company Mr. Furley, yep Karen’s father is actor Don Knotts.



My friend and writer / director of the documentary “The Mayberry Effect” connected me with Karen and Dixie Griffith (Episode #51) telling me what a wonderful person Karen truly is and how I should make sure to get her on the show.



After a few hiccups we were finally able to connect and make it happen.



Karen was a Librarian for most of her career, I know it sounds like a setup for an “Andy Griffith Show” set-up. She now is a standup comic, actress and loves sharing stories about her father and her career path. We did chat a lot about her family life growing up, and what her one woman show is about. We also reflected on Don and his career in film and tv, what a great father he was and just how good of an actor he really was.



Karen loves being a part of the Mayberry Family, meeting fans of the Andy Griffith Show and hearing how her father and the show touched their lives. It has had a lasting impact on my life. She is also thrilled when his Three’s Company fan base shares stories and their love for her dad with her.



I have watched clips of Karen’s comedy and show and I have to say if she is playing in a town near you, get tickets and check out her show.



So I’m going to “Nip it in bud” and end these show notes here so you can jump right into Karen’s episode.

https://youtu.be/WWDTXbyZlmQ




This episode is a first for Relatively Famous. I’m calling it a double-dipping episode. Jack & Davis Reid are Harold & Don Reid of the legendary country group The Statler Brothers, grandsons. The double dip is they are also the sons of the duo Wilson Fairchild’s Wil and Langdon Reid, the sons of Harold & Don Reid from Episode #40.



Like their fathers, I found Jack & Davis to be funny, talented and fun to interview. But unlike their dads they perform under a clear cut identity, JACK & DAVIS. Just kidding Wil & Langdon, Wilson Fairchild is a cool name for a band.



Jack & Davis are young and have a great outlook on life, music, their career and social media trolls. They could care less what trolls have to say and sometimes for fun they taunt them back. They do like when folks are kind and positive and will often personally respond to those social media questions and comments.



They are cousins, best friends and business partners, yet they still seem to enjoy singing, hanging out, traveling, finishing each other’s thoughts and writing songs together.



I wondered about how I might relate to these young men before we started recording, after all they’re closer to my son’s age and I can be a little bit of a “get off my lawn you dang kids” grumpy old man. However I truly enjoyed talking with them, learning about how they became a duo, it wasn’t a natural progression. Being in their 20s, I had to ask why they sometimes wear those matching outfit like old classic country bands and singers?



These two young men just love what they do and really don’t care if people don’t like their music or tell them to get over their grandfather’s Statler Brothers connection. Jack & Davis aren’t doing it so much for fans but for their enjoyment. They truly love singing songs of their granddads and feel sometimes the world could use some of those songs.



Jack & Davis are earning their way in the world of country music and not coasting on their grandfathers or fathers coattails! Ok, they do sometimes share a tour bus with their dad’s. But who wouldn’t want to ride in a bus over a van, right? They are working hard and playing shows that build a career and strong fan base, not quick internet one hit wonders.



What a blast and energetic interview Jack & Davis proved to be. These two clearly love each other, love what they do and love to share it with fans, both new and old. I hope you enjoy their conversation as much as I did.



https://www.relativelyfamous.net/episode-40-wil-langdon-reid-harold-don-reid-sons/https://jackanddavisreid.com/https://www.facebook.com/jackanddavisreidmusic/https://www.instagram.com/jackanddavisreidmusic/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTUsCoWaUrQ4m03akKm-bNA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTysh5M_SOw




Leslie came to Relatively Famous through our Producer Philip Nelson. He and Leslie have known each other for many years, starting when she was a news anchor here in San Antonio at KSAT.



Leslie’s daughter Nicole Mattox is an actress and winner of the Vertical Queen Award 2025, which is really the best actress award in the digital series world.



Here on Relatively Famous have started dabbling in the Vertical Film / Video fame genre and were thrilled when Leslie accepted our invitation to be a guest. Please Google Nicole Mattox (or click some links below) to learn more about her career.



Here in San Antonio Leslie has been a local celebrity since her days as a KSAT new anchor and beyond, so Nicole also qualifies as a guest.



At the age of 35 Leslie was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Rather than try and hide or pretend all was well, Leslie allowed camera crews to follow her journey. She showed viewers what life is like when fighting cancer, the treatments, the surgeries, chemo and radiation therapies. It was during this time that Leslie chose to anchor the news one night without her wig which lead to world-wide recognition with appearances on Oprah, Good Morning America and even my old stomping grounds, Inside Edition.



Leslie left KSAT in 2020 and now devotes her energy to Morgan’s Wonderland Inclusion Foundation based here in San Antonio, TX. She was thrilled to learn that our sponsor pushes inclusion for all people in their promotion of the Myrtle Beach area along with Traveling the Spectrum on Peacock and now wants to learn more about how “The Beach is for Everybody”.



Having never met Leslie before this interview I was very inspired and impressed with her story, her journey as a cancer survivor and her joy of giving back to the community. She is so down to earth and has a fantastic perspective on Nicole’s career and success as an actress.



Fans of Nicole’s and the vertical films Breaking the Ice, Snatched a Billionaire One Night and Found a Homeless Billionaire Husband on Christmas will love hearing Nicole’s mom’s story!



#cancer #verticalvideo #verticalfilm #digitalseries #verticaldrama #morganswonderland #KSAT #oprah #insideedition #sanantonio #chemo #chemotherapy #radiationtherapy #newsanchor #utaustin #longhorns #ut #utlonghorns




https://morgans.org/




https://www.lesliemouton.com



https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-mouton-59474563



https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11476913/?ref_=fn_t_1

https://youtu.be/fZjh3KkG0nU




I am going to go ahead and admit it right here, right now. Growing up my sister and I had several 45s of Brandon’s father’s family band. Yes we were fans of The Osmonds, Donny as a solo and as a family we watched The Donny & Marie Show. Vanna was even a guest on Donny & Marie’s talk show several years ago.



In this episode I have a fantastic conversation with Brandon Osmond, son of Donny Osmond.



I was introduced to Brandon by our sponsor visitmyrtlebeach.com and after almost 6 months of back and forth we were finally able to lock in a date to record. I wasn’t sure what to expect because in my mind I assumed it would be a bubbly Osmond interview. What I found out was Brandon is a very down to earth family man working hard to establish his career and provide a great life for his children. He is also very aware of the Osmond legacy. He is super family oriented, proud of the mark The Osmonds have left on the music world and very in tune with the shifts both up and down of his father’s career.



We talked about his time in Myrtle and working with Visit Myrtle Beach. Yes, a shameless plug.



I loved the story he tells of Michael Jackson calling his dad and the impact that call had on his perspective of his father’s career. We chat about the joy he experienced as kid hanging out backstage during Donny’s Broadway days as the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.



This episode is one that you really must listen to or watch on YouTube, I really can’t do justice trying to summarize our conversation in show notes. When Brandon’s book comes out I think I may have to have him on again for a part 2. Or maybe one of his 4 brothers would be fun.



So forgive the shortness of my description and jump into the world of Brandon Osmond, son of Donny, nephew of Marie, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Jimmy.



myrtlebeach #donnyosmond #theosmonds #onebadapple #donnyandmarie #marieosmond #utah #michaeljackson




https://brandon-osmond.com/




https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-osmond-9bab4a11



https://www.youtube.com/c/brandonosmond



https://donny.com/

https://youtu.be/wvqYhKdnsCk




Growing up, and even to this day I am a Three Stooges Fan. Like a large amount of the Three Stooges fan base it is Moe, Larry & Curly that are my favorite Stooges trio.



Thanks to social media I was able to connect with Bard “Curly G’ Server. Brad is the grandson of Curly Howard of The Three Stooges. I guess that makes him a Great Nephew to Moe & Shemp Howard too. But that’s another tale, let’s stick with Curly.



Brad’s mother Marilyn was Curly Howard’s daughter. After Brad’s grandmother divorced Curly in 1940, Marilyn’s mother remarried a man named Moe Diamond. At the age of 14 when her mother remarried Marilyn closed the door on any connection to Curly Howard for many many years.



As a youth watching tv with his siblings, Brad was naturally attracted to Three Stooges short reels yet had no idea he was related to Curly, Moe and Shemp.



Brad, a self-proclaimed class clown, was and is always doing wild and crazy things for a laugh. Strangely like his grandfather Brad took to physical comedy at an early age and has mastered some of Curly’s signature moves.



After he and his siblings were told their biological grandfather was actually Curly Howard and the shock settled down, they were also told not to talk about it out of respect for their grandfather Moe Diamond. Marilyn was also worried about lawsuits regarding The Three Stooges rights.



And as Brad says, who was going to believe him, this kid they all knew for years suddenly telling all his friends “yeah Curly on The Three Stooges is my granddad”. As an adult I still sometimes have that reaction regarding Vanna.



Time, understanding and the legal issues around The Three Stooges settled has finally opened the door for Brad and his siblings to talk about their lives, meet fans of their grandfather and become a part of the extended Howard and Fine families.



Today, Brad performs as “Curly G”. He has a YouTube channel where he and his comedy partner honor The Three Stooges and their legacy. He shares his story wherever he is asked and loves to make people laugh. He pays homage to his roots by taking a lot of physical abuse in the name of comedy. Plus Brad is just an all-around cool guy to sit and talk with.



Brad loves his family and is super proud of his wife and daughter.



Referring back to opening notes, and as Brad states in his interview, take nothing away from Shemp, Joe and Curly Joe as they also contribute to the endearing longevity of The Three Stooges. All of them, Moe, Curly, Larry, Shemp, Joe and Curly Joe had successful acting careers with and without The Three Stooges and were all amazing actors.



Bard, thanks for sharing your family history with us.



https://www.instagram.com/curlysgrandson/https://www.facebook.com/CurlysGrandsonhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1409431369168994https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdzsQCzUKg8Hpsc1ws_j3lwhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm7795891/https://threestooges.com/https://www.shopknuckleheads.com/



#threestooges #curly #moe #larry #3stooges #shemp #curlyjoe #shortreels #physicalcomedy #threestoogesfan #joe #piefight

https://youtu.be/pS2253ALDss




Back in Episode #30 we interviewed Marcus King’s father, Marvin King. In this episode we get a glimpse into the world of being Marcus King’s sister, Holland King. I love taking with siblings because I can relate to a shadow cast and looking for our sunshine.



Although Holland does play a little saxophone she is not musically enthralled like her dad and brother. Holland loves Rock & Roll but has no desire to be center stage.



Holland will proudly tell you “I’m blue collar and I’m the fighter of family”. To hear her talk about trying to get Marcus to put down his guitar come outside and play or climb a tree or even jump off the roof is hilarious. She says, nope he would sit on the porch and watch, cause all he wanted to do was just play his guitar.



Holland tells us growing up she was living in a house where all she heard was guitar plucking and picking. She laughs now but she tells us somedays back then all she wanted was to be seen and heard, but all there was, was dad and Marcus’s guitars a plucking and a picking. Now when she and Marvin get together, he’ll sit the guitar down and enjoy their time together talking.



When Holland says she’s Blue Collar, she means it. Holland is a spitfire, no holds barred dump truck driver! She loves it!!! But has plans to sign on as tour bus driver for an unnamed rock band.



She loves driving her trucks, being a single mom to her two boys and getting quality time with father, brother and family.



We also had a serious conversation about standing in the shadow and feeling invisible when the show is over and fans swarm Marcus and his dad.



Well Holland, thanks to Relatively Famous, both you and I are no longer invisible and we telling our stories loud and proud.



#ericclapton #stevierayvaughn #dumptruck #bluecollar #singlemom #truckdriver #roadie #guitarpickin #eminem #jellyroll #chrisstapelton #tourmanager #tourbusdriver #manmoney #dumptruckdriver

https://youtu.be/R8D9RbVU64Y




Patricia Vonne is the sister of Texas filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, a legendary director / writer that turned a low budget feature film into a trilogy of hit movies… Robert’s films include El Mariachi, Desperado, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Spy Kids and Sin City among others.



The Rodriguez Family are from San Antonio where Patricia and her 9 siblings grew up in house filled with love, music and respect. So when Patricia came to visit her parents here in San Antonio, we were lucky she was available for an in-studio conversation.



First, not only is Patricia tall and stunning, she’s also charming, full of life, energy and positivity. She is a Rock Star, no really she is a legitimate ROCK STAR. With years of world tours under her belt, 10 albums (CDs & streaming), songs in many of Robert’s films and a prolific catalogue of songs she has written, you can see why I say she is a legit rock star.



Oh and she is an award winning animated filmmaker, artist, world traveler and she crushes it on the castanets. She even gave me a little live lesson.



Sitting across from each other at Nelco Comics we talk about her music, the influences for her songs she sings in Spanish, her rock and folk songs and the songs featured in movies. We had a chance to discuss some mutual musicians we know, “The Cruzados / Tito and the Tarantulas”, and the impact they had on both of our lives.



Like Episode #52, our interview with Freida Parton, they both come from large families where music always filled the house. With Robert around filmmaking, with a camcorder, was also part of life in The Rodriguez household.



Particia lets us in on Rodriguez family stories, life in a big family, plus how and when she discovered her mother was a flamenco dancer. Her big sister convinced Patricia to follow her to New York City to experience life outside of San Antonio. There she was quickly spotted by a talent agent and started modeling. It was also in NYC where she really began her professional musical journey.



Patricia does not take her music or performing for granted. She knows just how blessed she is to have her amazing music, film and art career.



Eve and I went to see Patricia perform at Jazz TX at The Pearl in San Antonio. Before that she and I had been playing phone / email tag about her being on the podcast. Afterwards I knew she had to be a guest on the podcast. In the talent world there are people that have it and those that don’t. Patricia, she has it, whatever it is, she has it…



Patricia Vonne – Sister of Robert Rodriguez



WELL, here she is and I couldn’t be more thrilled, ENJOY…. Ladies and gentleman, Patricia Vonne!



https://www.patriciavonne.com



https://www.instagram.com/patriciavonne/?hl=en



https://www.facebook.com/patricia.vonne



https://www.youtube.com/user/patriciavonne



#particiavonne #roberrodriguez #elmariachi #desperado #sincity #spykids #castanets #rockstar #sanantonio #jazztx #largefamily #10siblings #thepearlsa #jazztxsa #nyc # flamenco #flamencodancer #dannytrejo #titolarriva #thecruzados #titoandtarantula #art #shortfilm #movies #filmmaker #artist #singer #songwriter #antoniobandera #chrisisaak

https://youtu.be/7fHf8ZbM_YU




Everyone loves Dolly Parton, she is one of Vanna’s favorite people. Vanna works to emulate Dooly’s goodness, kindness and generosity. Plus, Dolly has a fantastic family dinner show called Dolly’s Pirate Voyage Dinner Show in Myrtle Beach. So when Freida Parton, Dolly’s younger sister responded YES to my request to be a guest I was overjoyed.



Freida and her twin brother Floyd (passed 12/6/2018) are the 10th and 11th children of Lee and Avie Parton. Freida is amazing to talk to, she has more stories than our time allowed, has a huge, and I mean huge, catalogue of music. She writes 1-3 songs a day. Dolly’s even shocked at how many songs she’s written. Freida has performed, recorded and written music with Dolly, been a regular performer at Dollywood with her sister Stella and has a new LP coming out. She married young and with her husband co-wrote “Sing for the Common Man” on Dolly’s 9 to 5 LP. If you are an 80’s hairband rock fan then you’ll totally rock with Freida’s Rock & Roll album “Two Faced” from 1984. The single’s video, Oriental Doll, played on MTV. Life has not always been easy for Freida as she has pursued her musical career. There were some dark roads had to navigate and demons she had put behind her. She’s tough and because of that her life adventures have produced some great tales tell.



https://www.instagram.com/the_real_freida_parton/?hl=en



https://www.facebook.com/people/Freida-Parton/61577998989224



https://www.facebook.com/FreidaPartonFans



https://www.dollydiscography.com/freida-parton-discography.html



https://piratesvoyage.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX1_nCEf5-Q




It’s difficult to find someone over 30 that is not a fan of Dixie’s father Andy Griffith, star of Matlock and The Andy Griffith show. Sheriff Andy Taylor is a national treasure in my opinion! I know I have been a fan for at least 55+ yrs of my life.



Andy’s musical talents and recordings have crossed multiple decades. His comedy recording of “What it was, was football” will always be classic comedy gold. I once had signed copy of his comedy LP, Andy Griffith Just For Laughs. It was a prize possession that was stolen from my West Hollywood apartment in 1984. Yeah, I’m still mad at that thief.



Dixie shares her life as a kid when they would spend their summers on the Outer Banks of NC where her father was just Andy to local folks, to life in Toluca Lake, CA where dad was a famous film and tv star.



We chat about the effect that The Andy Griffith show has on people, how being a part of the Mayberry family is so gratifying, the different Mayberry events she has participated in, the films Mayberry Man and The Mayberry Effect.



We talk about how good of an actor father really was and how he should have won an Oscar for the Ella Kazan film “A Face in the Crowd”.



She shares how difficult it was for her brother being compared to Opie by the public and losing him at a young age.



I even ask her about the new Matlock with Kathy Bates!




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_AwfI9TPY8




https://www.themayberryeffect.com

https://youtu.be/5QRIkdQtltg




Dang Me. I got to have the King of the Road, Roger Miller’s son Dean on the show! Do-Wacka-do is that exciting to me. In 2002 Eve and I saw the Deaf West Production of Big River in LA. The production and the music (though I already knew it from the album) changed my live theater experience for life. I was a fair weather fan of Roger’s until that night. Since then, River in the Rain is probably one of my favorite songs of all time.



Dean responded to a social media message about being a guest, which I’m finding is rare (Dang it). He was game right off the bat and we caught him in the car on the way to his office. Our second in car interview. See Matt Axton episode #38



He has lived a fascinating life, from learning to make his own music and path in the music business. to being a renowned dog trainer. Yeah, dog training was news to me and a fun topic to chat about. I was, “wait, wait a minute you’re a dog trainer? I thought you were a singer, songwriter and producer?” Oo-De-Lally it seemed like he was pranking me at first. He wasn’t.



He talks about how his dad wouldn’t just make a call to the record labels for him, so he had to hustle and prove his talent in order to earn his record deals. Dean is also candid about how if there was a bad deal or move in the record business not to make, or just bad timing and luck, he lived it.



I googled him after our show and Dean is a very talented singer songwriter, yet still honors his father’s legacy and memory by doing some heartfelt covers of his dad’s songs. I also suggest you google Dean Miller songs…



Spending time with Dean is like Walkin in the Sunshine and by the end of the conversation, you feel like Old Friends.



Ok, Dean, I’m sorry about all the corny uses of your dad’s songs in the show notes, but man, they just lend themselves to the great and fun time I had chatting with you! Dean, I can tell ya in This Big Town you’re a Super Star!




https://deanmillerentertainment.com/




https://www.instagram.com/deanmillermusic/?hl=en



https://www.facebook.com/deanmillerpage/

https://youtu.be/TmN4q9hiuMc




After almost a year of phone tag and scheduling conflicts I was finally able to get Alison on the podcast. Well before making contact, I had been following a Facebook page “Vintage Los Angeles”. I was / am fascinated by the photos she and followers post. Once I figured out who Alison was and that it was her Facebook page I knew I really needed to have her on the podcast.



Alison’s father, Al Martino was a famous traditional pop and standards singer and actor. Al was part of the last Hollywood crooners and played Johnny Fontane in the film The Godfather.



Having lived in Los Angeles in the early 80s and then again from 1986 to 2005 I was more interested in Alison’s love for preserving the history of Los Angeles and sharing her hometown with the world then chatting about her father. We do chat about Al and what her life was like growing up with him.



Although Alison and I never met while I lived in LA our paths of cool, unique and old Hollywood crossed on many levels. I had so much fun talking about and reminiscing about places no longer there or that are on the verge of disappearing from the landscape.



She has a fantastic love for vintage style, architecture and history. Our conversation reminded me of Episode #5 with Ryan Cassidy, another lover of vintage style and a deep old Hollywood connection.



If you are fascinated by vintage photos and the history of Los Angeles then you will enjoy hearing the passion and energy Alison puts into keeping LA special.



https://www.facebook.com/VintageLosAngeles



https://martinostimemachine.blogspot.com



https://www.facebook.com/alisonmartino1970



https://www.instagram.com/alisonmartino



https://www.vlamerch.com

https://youtu.be/3GG9AY2v85g




The question was asked when I was attending Podfest 2025, “What if you aren’t overshadowed by your famous relative?”. That brought up a great point. Now several of my guests have been in their own sunlight and Jack Baldini is certainly one of them. His Great-Great Uncle Enrico Caruso had passed away before Jack was born. Yet, Jack has this amazing connection to Enrico.



Enrico Caruso is considered one of, if not, the greatest Opera singers of all time. He revolutionized the recording industry as one of the first to recognize the importance and financial opportunities of the vinyl record.



Growing up Jack learned of his great-great uncle from family and became curious to learn more. He learned Caruso was known for his drawings as well as his operatic voice and now looks for original signed Caruso drawings.



Jack talks about collecting his Great-Great Uncle’s art, records and memorabilia even though he himself is not a big Oprea fan. He is a patents, trademark, copyright lawyer in Florida and this after running a successful restaurant for over 20 years.



Let’s talk Opera, food, podcasting and law with Jack Baldini.

To many a generations Lena’s father is best known for the best song and scenes in the 1967 animated movie The Jungle Book. Yep, Lena Prima is the daughter of the amazing showman Louis Prima aka “King Louis”.



I shared my story of David Lee Roth doing her father’s famous song “Just a Gigolo” and my mother setting me straight that DLR was not the original singer.



Lena is a wonderful performer, recording artist and proud of her father’s legacy while carving her own fan base in the world of music. She did the Rock & Roll / Heavy Metal west coast scene for years, there’s some great photos in the notes, and toured full time with cover bands before finding a musical home in her father’s kingdom of New Orleans.



So on your next trip to The Big Easy be sure to stop in and see Lena at The Hotel Montleone in the French Quarter.




https://youtu.be/gSUXP-5-CuE




https://www.lenaprima.com



https://www.facebook.com/lenaprimaofficial



https://www.instagram.com/lenaprima

https://youtu.be/6RW0WiOYr-U




This is for all the NFL die hard history buffs and Dolphins fans. Bart Noonon’s father Karl Noonon was on the first Miami Dolphins team through the undefeated 1972 season. Bart has some great stories about his dad’s career and life after football.



I met Bart in Charlotte, NC not long after we moved there in 2005. His son and our son were classmates from 1st grade through 12th and in Boy Scouts together. We shared some fun camping trips together and a lot of pork smoke cooking for the “Troop 355 best BBQ in the Galaxy “ fundraisers.



Bart was in a dark place for many of the first several years of our friendship. We discuss our drug addiction past and his path out of those days and into the light of God. His faith has taken him from Hell, as we addicts know it, to a life of serving with a ministry for underprivileged kids. Sobriety has also given him a family life that many would wish for.



Football, addiction, God, giving back, a father’s love… These are just a few of the topics we chat about in this episode.



https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070679910582




https://westblvdministry.org/

https://youtu.be/_4CurItY1r0




I had so much fun talking with Tess Frizzell and learning about life on the road and getting to record a song with her mother Shelly West. I had the pleasure of meeting her mom back in the early 80s when I was a DJ / Bartender / Contest MC at Cowboy’s Nightlife in North Myrtle Beach, SC. She even signed a copy of her “Red Hot” LP for me. I still have it and shared a photo with Tess.



Now Shelly West is not Tess’s only famous relative, oh no, her family tree is a Country Music forest.  Her Grandmother Dottie West is a Country Music Hall of Fame Grammy winner. Dottie was the first female country artist to win a Grammy. Let’s not forget the Frizell side of her family. Her dad is Allen Frizzell youngest brother to, and making her Uncles, singing sensation David Frizzell and Country Music Legend, Lefty Frizzell. Lefty is from Corsicana, TX where my wife was born and raised. There is even a statue and museum of Lefty there. We make sure to stop by when we go see family in Corsicana.



Tess grew up on the road with a list of Who’s Who in the country music world. From sneaking onto Willie Nelson’s bus as a very young girl, to being held by Grand Ole Opry stars like Minnie Pearl as baby, too Super Stars babysitting while mom was on stage performing.



She is also a very talented singer and songwriter in her own right. During our conversation I learned Tess is an accomplished portrait artist and painter. Her portraits have been commissioned by families of US Presidents and she has sold amazing portraits of Country Music’s biggest stars. See her website link below for details. I truly hope you enjoy Tess’s conversation as much as I did.



https://www.tessfrizzell.net



https://www.facebook.com/TessFrizzell




https://www.tiktok.com/@tessfrizzell

https://youtu.be/8XuZOwqu--g




Cindy Cash the third daughter of Johnny Cash and his first wife Vivian Liberto is our guest on this episode of Relatively Famous. Cindy chats about her life as a daddy’s girl and really getting to know her father when she started touring with him. She would spend her school months at their remote hilltop home in Casitas Springs, California and summer in Tennessee or on tour with her dad, June and their children. Cindy loved the hilltop home with it’s amazing 360 views and wildlife of rattlesnakes and coyotes, even if was a tough and lonely place to grow up.



Following in her dad’s path Cindy loved to sing and would often join Johnny on stage. She even did a mini tour with Kathy Twitty and Peggy Lynn as “The Next Generation”. I’m not sure there is a greater love than the love Cindy has for her father Johnny. She has many memories and mementos our her fathers and she is sharing both with his fans. There was a recent auction and Cindy has plans for more.



I so loved chatting with Cindy and do hope to visit with her next time I happen to be in Nashville. Cash is King and Cindy is a lovely princesses in the Royalty Country Music Cash Family.



https://www.cindycash.com/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1289456/https://www.instagram.com/johnnycash/?hl=enhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Cash