1on1 with Jon Evans

In this episode of 1on1 with Jon Evans, Jon sits down with Ralph Johnson—original member, vocalist, songwriter, and percussionist for the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire—ahead of the band’s stop in Wilmington at Live Oak Bank Pavilion.

Johnson shares why EWF is “not just a band,” but an energy rooted in Maurice White’s vision—built on movement, musicianship, and a nightly pre-show circle of prayer to “bring that energy in” and send it out to the crowd. He reflects on the surreal reach of the catalog (including the claim that an EWF song plays somewhere in the world every 98 seconds) and what it means when fans call the music the soundtrack to their lives.

Ralph also opens up about the band’s abrupt 1982 pause, the years he spent doing whatever it took to provide for his family—including construction work and selling stereos in Hollywood—and the call that brought him back to help carry the torch with Verdine White and Philip Bailey. Plus: why “September” still closes the show—and what it means if you walk in and hear it.

Listen now for a conbversation about timeless hits, big energy, and the rhythm that never quits!

Actress, author, producer, and advocate Elaine Hendrix – who became an icon to many as Meredith Blake from the movie The Parent Trap—joins “1on1 with Jon Evans” ahead of her newest role, as Queen of the 2026 North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington. Hendrix talks about returning to a celebration she remembers as “wonderfully wild”, and why she can’t wait to connect with the community. She also opens up about the life-changing accident that ended her dance career, the “second chance” she found on Dancing with the Stars, and the unexpected fan support that carried her through injury setbacks. Plus, we get a pop-culture gem: how her Inspector Gadget 2 character became the Happy Meal toy she still treasures today.

Mattress executive-turned-studio CEO Kirk Englebright shares the unlikely pivot that led him from retail success to launching Dark Horse Stages, the newest studio for filmmakers in North Carolina. A surprise phone call turned a busted deal into a huge opportunity, and Englebright’s momentum exploded with rapid-fire productions, a major expansion with state-of-the-art stages, a headline-making booking of MrBeast, and a growing role as an advocate for North Carolina’s film industry.

More than a half-century has passed since Harry Wayne Casey had his first #1 hit record. You may know him better as “KC”, the founder of KC and the Sunshine Band, the group that had a string of chart-topping singles in the 1970s and dominated the Billboard HOT 100. KC just turned 75, and continues to entertain fans with his plans to “..do a little dance, make a little love, and Get Down Tonight!”

After spending decades as a screenwriter in Hollywood, Chris Hauty became a bestselling author with his series of thrillers featuring intelligence operative Hayley Chill. In his new book, Dead Ringer, Hauty delves into the world of conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A former secret-service agent must protect a university professor as they chase clues into what may have happened in 1963, while being hunted by an assassin bent on keeping history’s secrets hidden.

When Tom Llamas took over as fulltime anchor of NBC’s flagship Nightly News in June, he joined a list of legendary journalists who have had their name on that broadcast. The Miami native’s career has now come full circle from when he first joined the network as an intern 25 years ago. Many jobs and long shifts later, Llamas is now out front, dialed in, and venturing into the future of news coverage.  

The Runarounds is Wilmington’s new television series from the creators of the hit show Outer Banks. It follows a group of high school grads who form a garage band and chase their dreams of being rock stars. Original music, teenage romance, and the quest for fame are the backdrop for this high-energy story featuring real-life rockers William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock and Jesse Golliher along with cast members Lilah Pate, Kelley Pereira, and Marley Aliah.

New York Times bestselling author Kyle Mills published his first book featuring former Navy SEAL Salam al-Fayed, called Fade, in 2005. After writing three books in Robert Ludlum’s universe and nine featuring Vince Flynn’s beloved character Mitch Rapp, Mills decided to bring Fade back from the dead. Fade In is Mills’s 24^th thriller, a pulse-pounding thrill ride of a book that puts his character in life-or-death situations that are straight out of today’s headlines.

Edwin McCain says his breakthrough 1998 hit I’ll Be saved his recording career. A year later, he hit the Top-10 again with I Could Not Ask For More. Now, 30 years after the release of his first album on a major record label, McCain has released his 11^th record, Lucky, the first collection of all-new songs from the South Carolina native in 15 years. He is also going out on a coast-to-coast tour with Train starting August 1.

The families of five murder victims have waited years, even decades, for justice. They lost mothers, fathers, sons and daughters to violent crimes in the Wilmington area, and the killers have never paid the price. In this special podcast episode, you’ll hear detectives talk about the investigations into these unsolved murders, while loved ones share their feelings about the pain that has never gone away. What is the piece of information that can help solve these Crimes of the Cape Fear?

Kathleen Baker overcame being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease to become one of the best swimmers in the world, winning gold and silver medals in Rio de Janeiro with the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team. Baker set her sights on returning to the games in 2020, but she never got that second chance at Olympic gold. Now the North Carolina native is supporting a project that could help train the next generation of elite athletes.

Mike Oblinger took over as Athletic Director at UNCW in April of 2023, coming to Wilmington from the University of Connecticut where he worked alongside coaches and administrators who won several national championships. Oblinger brings years of experience in fundraising and administration, looking to take Seahawk athletics to the next level, while ensuring the front porch is in great shape.

When Jessica Holmes took the oath of office to become North Carolina’s State Auditor in December 2023, she added another “first” to her growing list of accomplishments. It’s even more impressive when you learn Jessica Holmes experienced homelessness as a child while growing up in Pender County. But thanks to adults who took the time to care, several life-changing moments sent Jessica on her path toward public office, and public service.

Kayla Thompson had success as a member of the West Bladen High School and UNCW women’s golf teams. Since turning professional in 2019, Kayla has chased the dream of earning her card and playing on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour. After several years of ups and downs, Kayla has now earned the chance to take her game to the next level, and she’s working harder than ever to make it happen. 

Kody Kinsley’s life came full circle in 2023. The man who grew up in Wilmington without health insurance helped roll out a program that will provide coverage for 600,000 North Carolinians. That’s the latest accomplishment for the state’s Health and Human Services Secretary, whose career of firsts has combined his two passions, health care and public service.