The rest of Bessie's family tree is full of equally fascinating characters. His uncle Leo Burnett headed one of the world's largest advertising agencies, supervising the creation of the Jolly Green Giant, Charlie Tuna, Tony the Tiger, and the Marlboro Man, among others. His father's cousin Michael Bessie cofounded Athenaeum Press.

Another uncle, Harry Burnett, founded the Turnabout Theater in Los Angeles with Forman Brown (another relative), where they charmed audiences with their unique mix of human and puppet actors throughout the 1950s. His grandmother's cousin, Sidney Lenz, wrote a classic guide to the game of contract bridge. His brother-in-law Wes Wilson designed rock and roll posters for the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco during the 1960s.

An extraordinary strain of creativity runs through the remarkable Bessie and Burnett clans, and the history of a nation can be traced in their lives. These birds of a feather sing a uniquely American song as they soar through the national experience over decades and generations.