Rarified Heir Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode #130: Victoria Price (Vincent Price) May 16, 2023

Show notes

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, it's Halloween in May as we talk to Victoria Price (and her dog Allie), daughter of the great Vincent Price. Victoria is a truly wonderful guest – smart, engaging, thoughtful, self-reflective and more. Perhaps that goes hand in hand with her life and career of finding joy (which we discuss) as well as being an inspirational speaker, author, holistic entrepreneur and 'family brand ambassador' for her father and her terrific mother, costumer designer Mary Grant.

We had pages of notes, things we wanted to ask Victoria and somehow, we barely even looked at them. Our interview somehow turned into a fun, insightful conversation. We of course discuss her father's acting career, his love of food, how he loved being a public figure, his artwork and so on. However our conversation became more about growing up as the 'family brand ambassador' (there's that word again), her education from a young age that people wanted to be associated with her father more than her or her artwork and how much fun it was to be with her dad just trying to find the best taquito in Los Angeles. We also learned about how and why Vincent became such a foodie via his family roots, her mother's designing gigs on Broadway and in film and how important it was that her parents remained cordial after their divorce.

Along the way we discuss The Kenley Players, Hamburger Hamlet, Carol Burnett, crème brule, The Witchfinder General, Sears department stores, Broadway, Nat King Cole and much more. We thank you for taking a listen to Victoria Price on the episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast who is coming up now. Everyone has a story.

Episode # 129: John Denney (Dodo Denney) May 09, 2023

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Today on an encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast we spoke to John Denney, founding member and lead singer of the iconic punk band The Weirdos whose mother could make a sunrise and sprinkle it with dew, the one and only Dodo Denney. You likely remember Dodo as Mike TV's mother in Williy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory but chances are you will remember her from a ton of television commercials, sitcoms, movies and the like. And if you lived in Kansas City during the 1950s, you likely remember her as Marilyn The Witch, a local horror movie host which brought the young John some fame when his mom came to school for career day. Since this original broadcast aired, John's brother Dix Denney, guitarist for The Weirdos passed away so we'd like to dedicate this encore episode to him for helping form the first LA punk rock band in history. And to that end, we'd be remised if we didn't mention the recently released, limited edition album vinyl-only Bomp Records Live! At The Club Azteca from 1978 which is out now at bompstore.com.

What other podcast has discussions of George "Goober" Lindsey, Iggy Pop, Dustin Hoffman, Alice Ghostly and the like? The Rarified Heir Podcast and guest John Denney is coming up next! Take a listen!

Rarified Heir Podcast Episode #128: Cam Clarke (The King Family) May 02, 2023

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Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Cam Clarke, whose face you might not recognize but whose voice, you certainly will. Cam is a member – the youngest member perhaps – of the King Family as well as the son of cult actor Robert Clarke. As a member of "The First Family of Song", Cam literally grew up around show business, starting as a child in an oh-so-very wholesome family show who sang at inauguration of US Presidents as well as The Hollywood Bowl, multiple Las Vegas casinos and more. We talk to Cam about his family as well as his career as an indemand voiceover actor who made his mark beginning in the 1980s as the voice of Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which make him a huge hit at Comic-Con and more. We also talk about his one man stage shows, his uncle, the great guitarist Alvino Rey, his nephews in the rock band Arcade Fire and we even dig into his LDS roots and his status as a "recovering Mormon" and more. It's all right here, right now on Diners, Drive In's and Dives….oh, whoops, I mean the Rarified Heir Podcast.

Rarified Heir Podcast Episode #127: Bobby Brooks Wilson (Jackie Wilson) Apr 25, 2023

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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast we are talking to Bobby Brooks Wilson, son of Mr. Excitement, Mr. Soul, the amazing singer/performer Jackie Wilson. Now as you know, the theme of this podcast is : a child of a celebrity, interviewed by a child of a celebrity. So that hasn't changed at all with this interview. However, there is something vastly different about thisinterview with Bobby Brooks Wilson than any other interview we have ever done and likely, will ever do. And it's coming up next.

We talk to Bobby about his life growing up in South Carolina, far from the spotlight, far from his father, and how he's forged his own musical career as a singer, performer, impressionist and songwriter in his own right. He's shared the stage with Bruno Mars as part of his the band Peter and the Love Notes in Waikiki after a Navy discharge, he was 'discovered' by Paul Revere of (you guessed it) the iconic 60s band Paul Revere and the Raiders and Bobby talks to us about his deep roots connections to Billy Davis, The Four Tops, The Temptations and more. But no spoilers….we are going to leave it here for now. You are just going to have to listen to this episode to find out just what makes this story so unique, so different and so truly unbelievable that you simply could not make it up. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast. Take a Listen.

Rarified Heir Podcast Episode #126: Gigi Garner (James Garner) Apr 18, 2023

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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast encore edition, we are speaking with Gigi Garner, daughter of actor James Garner. Gigi was a fun interview to do because she spent so much time with her father both on camera and off. Yes she was on the set of The Rockford Files, yes we talk about her dad's breakout role in Maverick which led to a very public and very personal lawsuit that Jim ultimately won, but also how they shared the camera in a Polaroid commercial, that was omnipresent in the 1980s.

We talk about Jim's upbringing, his fantastic film career in movies like The Americanization of Emily, The Great Escape and Victor/Victoria as well as Gigi's own career as a singer in the 70's and 80s in the UK. And believe us, we've found some of those vinyl 7"'s on Discogs and Ebay and have been meaning to pull the trigger and having them shipped international for our personal collection. If that's not all, Gigi tells us about her years as a skip tracer, tracking down criminals, something we did NOT expect to hear. Oh and we also talk about Gigi's animal charities, something her father would fully support as well as her own artwork that is in galleries now.

It's all right here, on this encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Take a listen.

Rarified Heir Podcast Episode #125 : Eden Alpert Encore (Herb Alpert) Apr 11, 2023

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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast encore edition, we talk to Eden Alpert, daughter of great trumpet player and record label owner, Herb Alpert. We talk about Herb's youth growing up in LA, his Jewish roots, his songwriting career and ultimately his massive instrumental hits "A Taste of Honey" with the Tijuana Brass, his solo hit "Rise" as well as his vocal smash "This Guy's In Love With You." Put it this way, in the 1960s, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass were the only other artist to knock The Beatles off the #1 spot on the charts. His records were massive.

We also talk about his record label, A&M Records which was a powerhouse in the music industry by signing artist like, The Carpenters, Sergio Mendes, Joe Cocker, Cat Stevens in the 70s, The GoGos, Squeeze, Oingo Boingo and Janet Jackson in the 90s and during the 90s, Soundgarden, Sheryl Crow, Sting and Monster Magnet. You know, just a few small artists that barely anyone knows. Ha! (guffaw).

We also talk to Eden about running Vibrato, the jazz/supper club owned by Herb that she runs and books as well as the many music education charities Herb has founded which cement his legacy as true mench (MEN-CH) of the highest order. All "Rise" and take a listen to this encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast with Eden Alpert, right now

Rarified Heir Podcast Episode #124: Michael Simmons (Matty Simmons) Apr 04, 2023

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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to journalist Michael Simmons whose father, Matty Simmons was the Chairman of the Board and guiding force behind the National Lampoon empire. It's tough to overstate just how important National Lampoon has been to American comedy and comedy they world over. Launching in the1970s and continuing throughout the 1980s, this satirical magazine begat radio shows, stage plays, television shows and films like Animal House and Vacation, National Lampoon was at the center of mass entertainment for two decades. In fact, National Lampoon is the connective tissue in our comedy DNA that links us to Saturday Night Live, Second City, This is Spinal Tap, The Credibility Gap and much more. So how is it that one of the founders of the very first credit card company, Diners Club and later the publisher of Weight Watchers magazine came to kick off the counter culture comedy quake in the latter half of the 20th century? Ah, therein lies the rub and Michael was there to see it all.

From being given rides on the shoulders of basketball star Wilt Chamberlain, to tour managing John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis on the road, to tripping on mushrooms with Rip Torn, Michael Simmons has been there for the good and the not so good times, as Matty Simmons son. Somehow we get around to talking about LA vice squad busts which won him an LA Press Club award, being the scapegoat in interoffice squabbles to playing in Kinky Friedman's band. We get the lowdown on pretty much all things National Lampoon. Matty Simmons was the most mercurial of characters in the Lampoon story, but not anymore. Michael Simmons gives us a firsthand account of being at the genesis of a legendary comedy magazine that became a brand. It's all right here, on this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Take a listen.

Rarified Heir Podcast #123: Jon Klages (Enoch Light) Mar 28, 2023

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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we talk to musician and ace copy editor Jon Klages, whose grandfather, musician/producer/record label owner Enoch Light likely was the genesis of the Stereo revolution. Yes, you heard me right, classically trained violinist Enoch Light was one of, if not the first, to realize that by placing more than one microphone in a recording studio, you could create a fuller, more dynamic sound to your then, Hi-Fi, and now Stereo system today. Whoa.

While Enoch released 25 plus records in his career, it was his record labels Grand Award, Project 3 and Command that really are his legacy. The labels, specifically Command, were known for their audio fidelity as well as their groundbreaking abstract artwork, gatefold sleeves and extensive liner notes that make them so unique. Be it space age pop, jazz, classical, film scores, Bossa Nova or anything else under the sun, Enoch Light was a pioneer in bringing the best music to the consumer in the best light (pun intended) possible.

We talk about Jon's being in the recording studio with Enoch and mother Julie Light Klages at many sessions Enoch oversaw with his pipe at the ready. We also spoke about Jon's father, lighting designer William Klages, winner of seven Emmy awards, who worked with both Ernie Kovacs and host Josh Mills' mother Edie Adams at NBC in the early 1950s. We talk to john about his own musical career in the 80s as part of the "Hoboken Sound" with The Individuals, his move to Los Angeles and playing with the LA music scene surrounding the Paisley Underground and his 2021 solo debut Fabulous Twilight. Oh and did we mention that Jon copy edited the upcoming Ernie Kovacs book Ernie in Kovacsland from Fantagraphics coming July 18? Or that he's copy editing Edie Adams second autobiography as well? No? Well, take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast for some serious greatness.

Rarified Heir Podcast Episode #122: Sara Karloff (Boris Karloff) Mar 21, 2023

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Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we speak to Sara Karloff, daughter of the great Boris Karloff. We spoke to Sarah about her English gentleman father who loved animals and gardening and rose bushes as well as being the face of the iconic monster in Frankensteinand it's many offshoots. In fact, we talk about just how different the man was from the role he's best known for. We talk about Karloff's acting, spoken word albums and silent movie career, including a nearly four hour cut of King of the Congo, a film that is currently being restored now. Is it a serial? A full-length feature? We'll just have to wait and see.

We talk about Sara's concerns and ideas for her father's legacy and how she has guarded and guided that legacy lovingly to make sure that her father's name, likeness and his likeness as the character of Frankenstein and in The Mummy are seen in the twenty first century, just as they were in 1931. It's a terrific talk with Sara that includes everything from Boris' love of Cricket, his favorite drink, his favorite breed of dog, his intense desire to become an actor, his love of his final American film Targets and an appearance on The Ernie Kovacs Show Sara didn't know existed and more.

We talk about upcoming projects like a Kickstarter campaign from Legendary Comics and the need to animate some of Karloff's audio recordings. It's about the past, the present and the future on this wonderful episode. All this, from a truly fun and funny daughter of one of filmdom's most famous names, facse and voices – Boris Karloff. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.

Rarified Heir Podcast #121: Deanna Brown Thomas (James Brown) Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Deanna Brown-Thomas, whose father was none other than Mr. Dynamite aka, The Godfather of Soul aka "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business". We are of course talking about the legendary James Brown. When Deanna agreed to be a guest on the podcast we had no idea just how honest and forthcoming she would be talking about her father. In fact, she used the word 'transparency' and that's exactly what our interview was like. Outspoken, honest, joyful and genuine, Deanna spoke to us about everything from what it was like meeting (or perhaps being set up with) Eddie Murphy backstage as an adult to meeting Soul Train host Don Cornelius on camera as a four year old. As we discussed on this episode, there were very few entertainers who were as well-known across the world other than James Brown and we dig into it.

We also learned of James Brown 75/25 rule about show business which frankly was a life lesson we should all learn from. For a man who was known for his explosive live act, it was the school of hard knocks that made him learn that without the business, there was no show. When you work as hard as James Brown did onstage, you better believe, it was taken care of offstage. We also spoke about Deanna's career in radio, in running the James Brown Family Foundation and the James Brown Academy of Music Pupils in Augusta, Ga which provides musical education for local school children as well as a James Brown tour – the only one you can see in the world. We also learned about the James Brown estate which Deanna was very, yes transparent about.. We also discussed James Brown's role in the civil rights movement, his love of Jazz, his ownership of radio stations, what it was like behind the scenes and one subject we like to talk about - life on the road. It's sometimes not all it's cracked up to be. In fact, you might find yourself ordering room service instead of attending an afterparty on the road with her dad. You'll have to listen for yourself.

Deanna was a fantastic guest, a warm and frank person who wasn't afraid to 'go there'. So take a listen, to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast and you'll see what we are talking about.

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