Hollywood – Relatively Famous

July 8, 2025July 8, 2025

Episode 45 – Tess Frizzell (Shelly West – Daughter)

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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

@tessfrizzell

Shelly West and her daughter Tess Frizzell

Shelly West and her daughter Tess Frizzell as a child

June 30, 2025June 29, 2025

Episode 44 – Cindy Cash ( Johnny Cash – Daughter)

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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=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Cash

June 23, 2025June 22, 2025

Episode 43 – Justin Lloyd (Jim Varney – Nephew)

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“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

May 19, 2025May 22, 2025

Episode 41 – Kelly Knievel (Evel Knievel – Son)

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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

April 21, 2025April 21, 2025

Episode 37 – Linda Gail Lewis (Jerry Lee Lewis – Sister)

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Linda Gail is the younger sister of Rock & Roll Legend Jerry Lee Lewis. She is also a cousin to the late country music star Mickey Gilley and tv evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. That’s a whole lot of talent and fame from one family out of the little ole’ town of Ferriday, LA. Linda Gail now lives in Austin, TX and still performs locally and around the world. She started her career singing and playing with her brother Jerry Lee at age 14. Together they toured the world, wrote hit songs and cut records as a duet. She and Jerry Lee had a wonderful brother sister relationship that extended way beyond just performing together. This is evident in the song she wrote to her brother after his death and the video for “I Knew That You Were Leaving”.

A friend of mine happen to catch Linda Gail playing at the famed Gruene Hall in Gruene, TX one Saturday. He told her of the podcast, got her number and the next thing know she’s an amazing guest on Relatively Famous. She even forgave me when I made a very bad faux pas about Jerry Lee. Thank you Linda Gail!

Because she toured with Jerry, Linda Gail has met some of music’s biggest stars including Elvis Presley and developed a friendship with Tom Jones that she still fondly cherishes to this day.

https://www.lglmusic.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEu437j_-is
https://www.instagram.com/officiallindagaillewis/?hl=en
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Bj9FwLkEXYhZRgskLhvDX

March 3, 2025March 3, 2025

Episode 33 – Gabriel Cannon (Nick Cannon – Brother)

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While researching potential guests I ran across a post on Nick Cannon’s brother Gabriel Cannon winning the TV show Claim to Fame. Having worked with Nick early in his career on the Nickelodeon show Snick House. I knew I had to ask Gabriel if he would be a guest on my podcast. During our interview I discovered Gabriel is an amazing young man who has stood in the Hollywood limelight with his brother, toured with Mariah Carey, has music in his blood and knows the value of giving back in-order to live a fulfilled life. He stepped away from the Hollywood hustle, went to Bible college, now mentors some of societies most troubled youth and has plans for a youth camp to help these kids who went down or are on the wrong path. I promise you Gabriel’s enthusiasm for life will lift your day and make you ask yourself, what can I do to help America’s lost kids?

February 24, 2025February 24, 2025

Episode 32 – Scott Cooper (Leonard Nimoy – Cousin)

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Scott Cooper is not only Spock’s cousin, he is an amazing and successful artist who spent years hiding the family claim to fame. What tales Scott has of growing up a poor white art student in a tough black – Puerto Rican neighborhood of NYC. His childhood was literally where the film Warriors was based on. Scott moved to Los Angeles to ply his craft on the cartoon He-Man only to arrive in LA and discover there was no job waiting. All the animation had moved to Korea.

He is a master at adapting, learning and teaching new technology in the art world, think photoshop and 3D printing before photoshop was a household word and 3D printers were east to access.

Scott also spend those Hollywood years rubbing elbows with his Rock & Roll heroes where his wife ran a well know rehearsal studio. His art hangs in homes and galleries around the world. We were lucky to have Scott in the Nelco Comics podcast studio to share his story before he moved to Vietnam where he’ll teach art and technology to rising Vietnamese art students. He also had one of the premiere Star Trek memorabilia collections. In this episode Scott will fill you in on his Trekkie journey and how he just can’t escape the Nimoy legacy. https://www.behance.net/Inknstein

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025

Episode 29 – Jennifer Dornetta (Jimmy McGuire – Sister)

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Answer: Jennifer Dornetta – Question: Who is Jimmy McGuire’s sister…Answer; Jennifer Dornetta…. On this episode of Relatively Famous I hark back to my days of producing Jeopardy! Clue Crew segments. Jimmy McGuire was one of the original Clue Crew members and remained a world traveling member of the Jeopardy! Clue Crew for 21 seasons. He may not be a household name or face, BUT to 25 million Jeopardy! viewers he’s super famous. When I saw Jimmy wish his sister Jennifer a Happy Birthday on Facebook I knew I had to ask her to be a guest. Jimmy said she’s shy and may say no. Well, she’s lived in the shadow of an overprotective (their words not mine) big brother, from toddlers, high school and into adulthood, but he’s always been there for her. Oh yeah, she wasn’t allowed to date his friends. Their love for each other is unconditional. Jennifer loves her hometown of #Pittsburgh, being a mom and her career as a nail tech. Meet a very nervous, funny and loving Jennifer Dornetta.

https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/tagged/clue-crew

Jennifer Dornetta and Jimmy McGuire as kids

January 27, 2025January 26, 2025

Episode 28 – Bellamie Blackstone (Harry Blackstone Jr. – Daughter)

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Since starting this podcast I have been stunned by the connections Wheel of Fortune has provided. Here I have the honor of interviewing the granddaughter and daughter of renowned Master Illusionist Harry Blackstone and Harry Blackstone Jr, Bellamie Blackstone. She is not only an amazing TV Producer, she’s also the Producer of Wheel of Fortune. Her grandfather Harry was known to rival Houdini and her father Harry Jr was not only a master of stage illusion he was known for guest starring on primetime tv shows like Hart to Hart. This episode is pure magic, pun intended…

Bellamie Blackstone posing in green suit

https://www.emmys.com/bios/bellamie-blackstone

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025

Episode 27 – Carlo Mendez (Eva Mendez – Brother)

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It’s always fun and interesting to me when I meet another brother of someone
famous and on this episode we met the brother of actress Eva Mendes. Carlo
Mendez is as handsome as his sister is beautiful. Eva may have retired from acting but Carlo is just starting his acting journey. Carlo talks about his career, growing up in Miami, going to Hollywood and keeping his relative close to the chest. He also opens up about the loss of their older brother Carlos. He proves he’s a great brother by keeping true to Eva & Ryan’s desire for privacy.