Whoa. There I was, sitting on the piano bench as he played the hits he was involved in. "I know that song. And that one. I played that one on the radio when I was a DJ!" 

Because if it was a hit, there's a good chance Clarence McDonald had a couple hands in  it - on the keyboard or as producer. James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is," Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze," Hall & Oates' "Sara Smile," Bill Withers' "Lovely Day," The Emotions' "Best of My Love." Plus Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, Erykah Badu, The Jackson 5, Barbra Streisand, Aretha ... just read the liner notes and you'll find his name all over the place.

Clarence, who passed away last year at the age of 76, was an early guest on Off-Ramp, and I caught him at exactly the right time. He'd had a lung cancer scare, had met the love of his life Susan, and was feeling like he oughta get out of his shell and share some of his knowledge ... gained from luminaries like legendary LA music teacher Alma Hightower and Eubie Blake. I was honored he trusted me with his story. 

These two interviews debuted in 2009, and there are more to come.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

When I interviewed Norman Lear for Veterans Day in 2019, I asked for dibs on his 100th birthday interview. He immediately agreed, looked skyward, and said, "Hear that God? I've got a commitment!" 

Then Covid-19 happened. So as Lear turns 100 (on July 27), we'll have to make do with a rerun ... but if anybody should be okay with a rerun, it's Norman Lear, creator of so many groundbreaking TV shows - like "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons," and "Maude" -- that helped America confront its demons.

But mostly, in this interview done for KPCC's Take Two show, we talked about America, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and its promise of "the pursuit of happiness," and his service on a B-17 bomber in World War 2.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

How 1950s LA prepped for nuclear war; the Aqualillies are part of the synchronized swimming renaissance; Brains On and sound; LA's Wrigley Field.

The best of 8 years of Off-Ramp, including "The Ashes of Oakridge," the giant scissors of LA County, Carey McWilliams, and riding a motorbike with Susan Carpenter!

LA City Archivist looks into our water history; A Martinez on the new Lakers season; Tim Robbins brings "Midsummer Night's Dream" back from China; the bizarre waving mannequins of North Hollywood.

Giant sea bass census; the Great Drought and our water-dependent history; Marjorie Elizabeth Cameron Parsons Kimmel; No Mad Scientists in "I Origins"

Seth Menachem: Don't judge me or my 2-year old; an update on the Broad Museum and Hauser, Wirth, and Schimmel; Spike Lee up close & personal.

Sam Humphries, "smartass" Star-Lord writer; Taylor Orci thanks the social worker who rescued her; a mobster-cum-barber; Judy Chicago's Womanhouse

Brando Skyhorse on his tortured Echo Park upbringing, band Harbor Party pays tribute to Yacht Rock, and Kevin and Russ cook the perfect hamburger

RH Greene's appreciation of "Do the Right Thing," which changed the way we talk about race; Piero Selvaggio, who changed food in America; new NPR chief Jarl Mohn, who changed the face of US media.