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

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://www.lenaprima.com

https://www.facebook.com/lenaprimaofficial

https://www.instagram.com/lenaprima

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

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

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.

“Hey Vern, check out my Nephew Justin is on Relatively Famous podcast”… The character of Ernest with his trademark “Hey Vern”, portrayed by actor Jim Varney was a national advertising phenomenon and loved comedy movie star. His films Ernest goes to camp and Ernest saves Christmas are still great family friendly movies in a world of violent action films.

Justin Lloyd, is Jim’s nephew and remembers growing up with this really cool uncle who just happen to be famous. It was the 80s and Jim would pick up Justin in his Deloren for drives around town. Like what could have been a scene in the movie Back to the Future they would pull up to the gas station blaring classical music, open the two gullwing doors and Jim would exit the Deloren as if he were Doc Brown.

Now there is a resurgence of “Ernest” commercials popping up and a renewed interest in Justin’s book “The Importance of Being Ernest: The Life of Actor Jim Varney”. There’s talks of a documentary and maybe even a bio pic.

Justin has great respect and love for his Uncle Jim and enjoys talking about his life with him, his memories of Jim and possible new ventures highlighting Jim’s life and career. Funny thing is after we recorded our episode Justin found a New York Daily News article by Liz Smith from 1987 reporting that Jim had asked Vanna to be in his next film. I had a great time talking with Justin and hope you’ll get a kick out this episode. Share the joy of Ernest with Justin and go buy his book.

https://www.facebook.com/beingernestbook
https://a.co/d/1E0Gsfy

Lorene Monroe is the wife of the most influential inventor you don’t know, unless you’re a true tech geek the name David Monroe will not ring a bell. However he is responsible for a piece of technology you and 90% of people around the world use every day. David Monroe holds the patient and invented the cell phone camera. Yep all those selfies are because of David’s love of inventing. See the link below to learn about David.

Lorena is a truly wonderful force of nature. She loves life, loves helping people connect and has a great story of starting from nothing to owning and running successful businesses in fashion, film, restaurants and cosmetics. She is a beautiful, smart and loving lady who supports her husband while casting her own sunlight on the world. She wants nothing but the best for those she loves. I’m blessed to have her in my circle of friends.

She is a philanthropist with a sharp eye on the needs of San Antonio. She and David thrive on lifting the communities of San Antonio. Their goals are to make sure the youth of San Antonio have the same opportunities no matter their background.

After you listen to or watch Lorena’s episode please post a selfie, tag Relatively Famous and link this episode. I want to see who’s out there using Lorena’s husband’s invention!

https://www.facebook.com/bonitaproductionsllc

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChsAwR3RWhqohtcAkQt1ECQ

https://www.instagram.com/bonitaproductionsusa

https://bonitanatural.com/pages/bonita-ventures

All I have to say is the name Knievel and 80% of the world’s population will know exactly who I’m talking about. The World’s Greatest Daredevil, Master Showman and Hollywood legend Evel Knievel…

In this episode we meet Evel’s non-daredevil son Kelly Knievel. Kelly is also the brother of the late motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel. Robbie followed Evel in his love of motorcycle stunts and Kelly went for the non-bone breaking business side of showmanship.

Kelly lives in Las Vegas and works hard to keep the Knievel name and legacy alive. He is spearheading a new Evel Knievel Museum to be located in Vegas.

While Robbie followed his dad’s passion for motorcycle jumping, Kelly thrives in Evel’s other obsession, GOLF! Most days Kelly can be found on the course crushing drives and sinking 20 ft putts.

In this episode Kelly tells the tale of his father, a man from Butte, Montana who at 28 yrs old, was the father four and needed a career that would support his family. A natural showman, Robert Craig Knievel invented a Death Defying Motorcycle Daredevil and in the process became a worldwide celebrity known as Evel Knievel.

https://evelknievel.com

https://www.evelknievelmuseum.com

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0460773

https://www.facebook.com/evelknievel

When it was suggested I reach out and book Wilson Fairchild, I assumed it was one person and maybe related to Morgan…. Noooo, Wilson Fairchild are Wil & Langdon Reid, the sons of Harold & Don Reid, two of the founding members of The Statler Brothers.

I’m of the generation that is familiar with and knows some of their father’s music, but I did not know what to expect from Wilson Fairchild.

Langdon invited me down to see them play at The Rockbox in Fredericksburg, TX a couple of weeks before we did the podcast. I assumed it would be a pretty serious music show featuring old country songs. MAN was I wrong… Going to see Wilson Fairchild is like watching Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis but with country and rock music. They are funny, super talented both instrumentally and vocally. They connect with the audience playing some of their fathers songs, their own originals and crushing cover tunes.

Wilson Fairchild is the first duo we have had on the podcast and what great chemistry they have. Fun to chat with, different perspectives on the same life events and filled with personal stories of a grounded life while sharing the road with country superstars. Well to Wil & Langdon they weren’t superstars, they were just dad and the band.

I’ll end on this, if Wilson Fairchild is playing in your area, do yourself a favor and go see them!