Richard and Joe welcome Bill Marx, son of the beloved comedian Harpo Marx. Show business has truly been his life. His father, born Adolph Marx, got his stage name “Harpo” because he played the harp. In 1910, Harpo join his two brothers Julius (“Groucho”) and Milton (“Gummo”) to form the “The Three Nightingales” which later became “The Marx Brothers.” Harpo was famous for his sight-gags and props. By the age of 12, Bill traveling with his dad on the road and was Harpo’s personal prop man, packing his trunk for every performance.

Bill studied composition at the Julliard School and is an accomplished pianist, but thinks of himself as a composer first. He began arranging and conducting for his Dad’s recordings and personal performances, and he wrote scores for numerous movies and televisions shows including The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. Bill, his Mother (Susan Fleming Marx) and his Father, Harpo, have the distinction of being the only Father-Mother-Son combination honored on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. In fact, they have 5 stars among them.

In his book, Son of Harpo Speaks, Bill tells the story of his life in show business and his journey down an amazing highway of discovery and love (with more than 160 photos).

Now a resident of Palm Springs, Bill actively supports many charities. He serves on the boards of Act For MS, Angel View, and he performs at the Stroke Recovery Center. He is also in the process of creating the Harpo Marx Scholarship Foundation.

To learn more about Harpo’s life and Bill’s life with Harpo, visit Harpo’s Place.
To learn more about the Marx Brothers, visit the The Marx Brothers Council of Britain.

LISTEN TO PODCAST:

Bill Marx Interview

Bonus Audio