Edward J Glaser: Music, Family, and the Making of a Modern Dad in the Spotlight

Basic Information

A Family Story in Motion

Before the spotlights and red carpets, there was a family move. In the early 1990s, Edward J Glaser relocated his household from Cincinnati to the St. Louis area, a practical decision rooted in work and opportunity. The move became the backdrop for the coming-of-age years of his daughters, Nikki and Lauren, and, later, a frequent reference point in the family’s public storytelling.

By 1984, the Glaser family had already embarked on its most enduring project: raising two daughters who would take different, complementary paths. Nikki, born that year, grew into a nationally known comedian and TV host. Lauren, younger and steady as bedrock, focused on teaching and family life. E.J. and Julie provided the connective tissue—parents who were present, open to the camera, and game to join the joke when the punchlines came home.

Career: Marketing Mind by Day, Guitar by Night

E.J.’s professional life is a tale of two tempos. By trade, he built a career in marketing—work that demanded presentation, persuasion, and a knack for audiences. He capped that path as a retired executive, associated locally with the cable/telecom industry and known in St. Louis circles as a former Charter marketing executive.

After hours, he kept a different calendar. Music—always nearby—became a second career of the heart. With Glaze and the Moonkings, he performed in local venues, threading well-loved tunes through neighborhood nights. In that setting, E.J. wasn’t a backstage parent but a front-of-stage performer, a reminder that adulthood can still be loud, bright, and playful. The guitar didn’t replace the briefcase; it outlasted it.

On Stage and On Air: Comfortable in the Guest Chair

As Nikki’s career surged through the 2010s and into the 2020s, the Glasers became an easy fit for microphones and cameras. E.J. appears often as himself: a dad who tells stories cleanly, listens well, and riffs when needed. On The Nikki Glaser Podcast, he offers comic counterpoint and lived-in warmth. On reality TV segments, he’s the kind of presence producers call “real”—unforced, consistent, gently funny.

He’s also the kind of parent who shows up for big moments. In 2025, when Nikki hosted the Golden Globes, E.J. joined the family on the red carpet, a visible extension of the show-behind-the-show. It was a bookend of sorts: decades after the family hopscotched to St. Louis for work, here they were in Hollywood, together, a long conversation carried into a new room.

Selected Appearances and Moments

The Band: Glaze and the Moonkings

“Glaze and the Moonkings” sounds like a radio station at midnight—cool, slightly offbeat, and exactly what you’re in the mood for. With this local outfit, E.J. leaned into the kind of music-making that outlives trends. Small rooms, real audiences, and the simple transaction of a night well played. Their setlists echo familiar rock-and-roll DNA, and their presence in the St. Louis area underscores a truth musicians know well: community is a better stage than any algorithm.

The band’s footprint includes neighborhood venues and low-key videos, the sort of catalog you find by word of mouth rather than charts. For E.J., it’s a continuation of identity—a practice, not a performance. The notes are the point.

The Family Circle

At the center is Julie, E.J.’s partner in parenting and frequent co-star in family segments. She’s the kind of on-screen mom whose humor makes everything else feel possible. Together, they’ve become an emblem of supportive, present parenthood: they show up to tapings, chime in on podcasts, and keep their own running commentary off camera.

Then there are the daughters:

• Nikki, born 1984, a comedian and TV host who has put the family story front and center—sometimes in jokes, sometimes in hugs. She’s built shows that let her parents be themselves.
• Lauren, often referenced by her married name, Green, is a teacher and mom. Through her, E.J. entered grandfatherhood, a role that suits his storyteller’s ease and his musician’s timing.

In these roles—spouse, father, grandfather—E.J. isn’t a brand; he’s the connective tissue. The through line is care.

Timeline

What Stands Out

• Range: E.J. moved from boardrooms to bandstands without shedding either identity, proof that adulthood can have multiple acts.
• Presence: He doesn’t chase the spotlight, but he’s comfortable when it finds him—especially in the collaborative settings of podcasts and family segments.
• Continuity: From a move in the early 1990s to a red carpet in 2025, the story is less about fame than about showing up, again and again, for work, music, and family.

The Person Behind the Parent

Most public attention frames E.J. as “Nikki’s dad,” and he embraces that with evident pride. But the fuller portrait pairs that role with a working life in marketing and a parallel devotion to music. He’s the sort of figure many families know: the steady parent who’s also still a person with a craft. The cameras merely caught what was already there.

This balance—between ordinary and onstage—offers a quiet thesis about modern public life. You can be specific to your family, idiosyncratic in your hobbies, and still step into view when the moment calls. In E.J.’s case, the melody is simple: work hard, play music, love your people. The rest is harmony.

FAQ

Who is Edward J Glaser?

He is a retired marketing executive and musician known publicly as the father of comedian and TV host Nikki Glaser.

What band does he play in?

He performs locally with a group called Glaze and the Moonkings.

Who is his spouse?

He is married to Julie E. Glaser (née Burke), who often appears with him in family-focused media.

How many children does he have?

He has two daughters, Nikki and Lauren.

Where does he live?

He resides in the St. Louis area of Missouri, where the family settled after moving from Cincinnati in the early 1990s.

Has he appeared on TV or podcasts?

Yes, he has appeared in reality TV segments and is a recurring guest on The Nikki Glaser Podcast.

Was he at the 2025 Golden Globes?

Yes, he attended with family when Nikki hosted the ceremony.

What is known about his professional background?

He worked in marketing—locally recognized as a retired Charter marketing executive—before focusing more on music and family appearances.