The first time I heard Clyde McPhatter singing with the Dominoes at the Apollo I just fell off my chair

I came close to signing Elvis Presley. I offered $25,000 for his contract and they asked for $45,000 and I just didn't have the other $20,000. I should have gotten the Beatles. But one of my lawyers kind of messed up.

The first time I heard Clyde McPhatter singing with the Dominoes at the Apollo I just fell off my chair

Whenever a songwriter writes a big hit, then the next 20 songs they write - no matter how bad they are - get recorded.

Everyone felt like they knew Ray Charles and in a way they did, because he was embodied by his music.

My first wife was a theater person.

It is a great life, this life of music.