The Rock ‘N’ Roll Comedy Podcast
UNSUNG is a scripted comedy podcast loosely based on the real life of a sober rock ‘n’ roll guitar legend, Kasim Sulton. The fictional Alec Sulton suffers a heart attack on stage and is forced to re-engage with his three older children and navigate their unique brand of dysfunctionality… and in the process, form a family rock band.
Unappreciated and unloved, I guess I shouldn’t whine…
Underrated, uncompensated, I hit the notes and play in time…
I fly in, I fly out, I fly home, and everywhere in between…
Welcome to my nightmare, everyone thinks I’m living the dream…
My life is unsung, the words won’t come, starin’ at the page, tryin’ to find the right ones…
Unsung, there’s no refunds…tryin’ to write the tune, to a life UNSUNG.
About Unsung
ALEC SULTON has been on the road with some of rock’s biggest acts for 40 of his 60 years, so of course he collapsed on stage.
He’s 15 years sober and made it longer than most. Now on doctor’s orders to recover at home indefinitely, the pathologically restless musician has everyone on edge.
His adult children – all talented musicians in their own right – have long since grown accustomed to their dad’s absence, along with that of their mother, who died years before. Today, they’ve got lives and dreams and bad choices all their own, so this is a crushing new normal for all of them.
For oldest daughter MARNIE, her dad becomes a doting grandpa and bad influence. She’s got a career in local politics and a loveless marriage and now she’s got a dad who’s ready to help her whether she likes it or not.
For middle son DOUG, ALEC is an ill-equipped mentor and enabler. DOUG, a drummer in a death metal band who may be questioning his own sexuality, has a dream and he needs to know the difference between a mistake and a leap of faith. His dad’s made a lot of both.
Youngest daughter KELLY is a little bit of a mystery. She’s a nurse with a heart of gold, but out of step politically and culturally from the rest of the family. ALEC hardly knows her but can see that guy she’s about to marry might be a weirdo sex cult leader. Yeah. Well, rock and roll is about the only place where idol worship and weird sex make sense, so he’s got this.
Meanwhile, it’s revealed that ALEC’s musical projects – including the unfinished tour – aren’t just motivated by ALEC’s creative fire. He’s broke. His kids won’t know this.
What they do know, however, is that their dad can be a little nuts, self-destructive and a control freak, but deep down, always had the best of intentions for his family. He’s the scaffolding upon which they’ve built their own weird little lives, which remain underpinned by one thing: their music. And when they do finally play together – and they will – one thing becomes clear: they may not be a very good family, but they’re a pretty good fucking band.
This leads them to the inevitable conclusion and a fresh set of disasters: they need to take it on the road. A tour. Here’s hoping ALEC’s heart can take it.
Listen to Unsung here or wherever you get your podcasts
Episode 1 Pilot
Legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll sideman Alec Sulton suffers a heart attack on-stage and is forced to return home to Staten Island and deal with his three now adult children… much to their chagrin.
Episode 2 “Heart Attack Take 2”
Alec gets reacquainted with his family: oldest daughter Marnie’s is running for borough council; middle son Doug is in a death metal band; youngest Kelly is about to marry a cult leader. Than heart attack number 2 hits and his next tour is in jeopardy.
Episode 3 “You Don’t Have a Finance Guy”
Family dysfunction ramps up after the fallout of Kelly’s aborted wedding. Alec plots with new best friend from the hospital Frank to get back on stage. Doug is heartbroken after the lead singer in his band dumps him. Marnie gets pissed at Alec for not showing up on the campaign trail.
Episode 4 “Dad Started an Only Fans Account”
Alec, misinterpreting advice from Olivia to get into social media, teams with Frank and starts an “Only Fans” account which his family finds both hilarious and horrifying. Doug announces he has quit his band. Marnie brings up Alec’s absence when she grew up and suggests nothing has changed. Kelly tries to move forward. Marnie’s 7 year old daughter Sophie starts inserting herself into Alec’s career.
Episode 5 “You Are Not Touring Anymore”
Alec’s next try at social media is quickly stopped by Olivia and Sophie after his “Instagram Live” is only viewed by Frank. Doug reveals his truth to Alec. Sophie convinces Marnie to play a song and a surprise call from Joan Jett could change everything.
Episode 6 Season Finale
Kelly is torn between saving her near marriage and a very shocking offer. Sophie presents a plan to the family that will unite them in the one thing they all love: music!
CAST
JEFF BENNETT (Gene, Frank, Marie Fratelli, Jim)
Jeff Bennett is one of the most prolific and steadiest working voiceover actors in the last 30 years. With over two thousand credits to his name, he’s voiced such fan favorites as Johnny Bravo, Petrie in The Land Before Time, Kowalski in The Penguins of Madagascar, Pip in Enchanted and The Man In the Yellow Hat in Curious George, as well as the classic Mr. Smee in Jake and The Neverland Pirates. He can currently be heard as Jonathan and Cagey in Disney’s Puppy Dog Pals, Bump Bumperman in Blaze and The Monster Machines for Nickelodeon, Dr. Wexler in Lego City Adventures, and Dog in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.
SEAN DONNELLAN (Alec Sulton, Narrator)
Like his character, Alec, Sean Donnellan also grew up back East around the music industry thanks to his father who stage managed acts like Frank Sinatra, Queen, and the Rolling Stones. Sean loved the circus life so much, he regularly headlined comedy clubs in Manhattan and starred in Brigadoon on Broadway before moving to Los Angeles and spending much of his career in a padded room…recording all sorts of voices for cartoons, commercials, and now his two children, Isla and (coincidentally) Alec. When not in a voiceover booth, he enjoys playing cops, dads, and doctors on TV; watching the Mets blow games; and traveling with his kids and incredible wife, Candice Mann.
SPENCER FOX (Doug Sulton)
Spencer Fox is a 28-year-old actor, musician and writer living in New York City. His past credits include Dash in Pixar’s The Incredibles, as well as roles in Kim Possible and The Airbuddies franchise. In 2011, he helped found the pop-rock band, Charly Bliss who have toured globally and received praise from outlets such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times and NPR. He is currently a writer for the podcast network, Parcast.
AMY MARCS (Marnie Sulton, Olivia)
Amy Marcs is an actress, writer, producer, and voice over artist. Her voice can be heard on numerous national network television, radio, and political campaigns. You can also hear her as the voice of Peg the Pig in the animated feature film ‘Impy’s Island,’ which had its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. She is the writer and producer of the critically acclaimed autobiographical one woman show “Nice T!ts.” which has performed to sold out crowds at The PIT in New York City, Project Y’s “Women in theatre Festival”, The Alliance for the Arts Theatre Conspiracy in Fort Myers Florida, and Cape May Playhouse. Amy has performed at regional theaters across the country. Some of her favorite roles include: Gorgeous in “The Sisters Rosensweig”, Myrtle in “Kingdom of Earth”, and Lucille in ‘Gemini’. Amy was also part of an iconic 'Harold' team at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre In NYC. She was a Professor of Acting at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, for the past 14 years and is now teaching and coaching privately.
amymarcs.com
CLAUDINE OHAYON (Kelly Sulton, Sophie)
Claudine Ohayon is an actor, voice-over artist, Emmy Award winning producer/director and voice-over coach and demo producer. In recent years Claudine has been the go-to Live Announcer for high-profile projects like The Academy of Country Music Awards and The Daytime Emmy Awards. She can be heard and seen in commercials for Verizon, Listerine, MasterCard, Walt Disney World and Pepsi, among many others. Her promo clients include USA Network, ESPN, VH1 and MTV. Claudine plays the idealistic lead bee and the brassy ant that gets things done in the full-length animated films "Plan Bee" and "An Ant's Life,” and lends her voice to other animated shorts and series. She can be seen in the feature films "Looking for the Jackalope" and “Concussion,” as well in the web series “Breeding Grounds." Additionally, Claudine is a native Brooklynite, fluent French speaker, published photographer, kick-ass mom, lifelong dog lover - and typically the first person on the dance floor.
claudineohayon.com
This is KASIM SULTON
Unsung is based on the real-life experiences of one of rock music's most renowned talents: bassist, keyboardist, and vocalist, Kasim Sulton. You know him if you’ve been anywhere within earshot of a radio for the last 40 years. He’s toured with bands you love and written and played on tunes you can sing by heart, including two of the best-selling albums of all-time.
Kasim’s spent 40 years on the road during Classic Rock’s golden age, starting with a gig opening for Led Zeppelin at Wembley right on up to right now. He’s got decades of stories from stages, hotel rooms and recording studios with some of rock’s most colorful characters.
Then there’s life at home with his wife and three kids. It’s domestic bliss until the phone rings while he’s making meat loaf and it’s Meat Loaf asking him to do a session or a gig or 68 shows in 76 days. Birthdays are missed, anniversaries are celebrated over the phone. Family trips are cancelled. It’s rough, but there’s always another arena full of fans and a song doesn’t play itself.
But what happens when the song is over? Listen to Unsung…that’s where our story starts.
Kasim Sulton’s Unsung Playlist
It’s all about the music. Listen to some of the songs Kasim’s performed on…
PRESS
The Production Team
Kasim Sulton
Kasim Sulton, one of rock music's most renowned talents, serves as an executive producer and co-creator of UNSUNG. A bassist, keyboardist and vocalist, Sulton has been Todd Rundgren's bass player in Utopia for decades and has also played and sung on albums for many of the top artists of the past decades, including Meat Loaf, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, Jon Bon Jovi and Hall & Oates. Over his career, Sulton has appeared on albums that have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide. As a solo artist, he has released original material throughout his career. His latest album, KASIM 2021, was released in September 2021 by DEKO Entertainment.
Michael A. Simon
Throughout his 25-year career, award-winning television and film director, writer, and producer Michael A. Simon has directed some of the most iconic moments in television history. His shows have attracted over 2 billion views in combined audiences across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.
Currently, he is in pre-production on his first narrative feature film Prisoners of Time, based on the documentary Town Bloody Hall. The film weaves a story about a father and his daughter, Norman Mailer, Marilyn Monroe and the #MeTooMovement.
During his eleven-year career at VH1 Simon produced and directed the cutting edge, award-winning series New Visions, VH1 Storytellers and the iconic VH1 Divas. At VH1 he worked with numerous legends, including Miles Davis, Prince, David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Prince to name a few.
Simon left MTV Networks to continue his work as a freelance director where he would helm numerous specials and series, including Soul Train, 25 Live Survivor finales, 22 years of the Emmy-winning A Home For The Holidays and the memorable Priceline.com commercial series, featuring William Shatner. Other credits include Bee Gees One Night Only HBO concert special, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Rockstar, The Sing-off and MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, The Contender, and over 50 network, streaming and cable series and specials.
With 25 seasons and over 800 episodes of the worldwide sensation Ridiculousness (along with several spin-offs) and numerous comedy specials, including the highest rated Comedy Central stand-up special ever with Jeff Dunham and the award-winning Gad Elmaleh: American Dream on Netflix, Simon is widely recognized as a premier director of comedy.
Scott Kushner
Scott Kushner began his professional life in radio at network radio syndicators DIR Broadcasting, LBS Communications and ABC Radio Network. His responsibilities included creative development and marketing for radio’s most important long form programs including The King Biscuit Flower Hour, American radio's preeminent concert series, as well as Casey Kasem's American Top 40, American Country Countdown, and Rockline. He was actively involved in productions with musical artists such as The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Hall & Oates and Eric Clapton amongst others. He has worked on numerous specials including Live Aid and The Who's Farewell Tour.
Kushner was a founding member and Vice President of Point-of-Purchase Radio, broadcasting to 16,000 plus retail locations across the United States including Kroger, Rite-Aid, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Toys R Us, Eckerd Drug and Ralphs. The company was subsequently acquired by Heritage Media.
In 1993, Kushner founded MediaPlace, to produce branded content distributed cross platform, including mobile and online/social as well as on its core network of ten thousand plus digital-out-of-home screens nationally for clients including Foot Locker, Gillette, Nike, Barnes & Noble, Harley-Davidson, MetroPCS and others.
Since 2001, Kushner has served on the board for the media industry philanthropic organization The John A. Reisenbach Foundation, currently serving as co-chair of the organization’s program committee.
Ben Mehl & Chanel Bosh
Writing duo, Ben Mehl & Chanel Bosh are a husband and wife team with experience both behind the scenes and on stage. As a stand-up comedian, Ben Mehl has performed across the country. While Chanel Bosh, has worked and trained as an actor, including studying under the great Lynn Redgrave.
As writers, the pair has collaborated on web series, Out Of Left Field, starring NBA Hall of Famer, Chris Bosh.
Unsung, the podcast, is the second project together as a team.
F Street Productions, a new content company developing and producing original, cross-platform scripted entertainment that lives at the intersection of storytelling and lifestyle. It’s based in New York and Los Angeles.