I don't think I've had a more miserable life than a lot of people. I think I've had a pretty lucky life.

I'm not a very spiritual guy when it comes to music. I remember hearing Carlos Santana say that angels helped him write his songs. And I thought, 'Really, angels?

There was a misconception about me when I started off because I had my hair greased up and I have some vague resemblance to the hillbilly gene pool that Elvis came from. People would say, 'You want to be Elvis' and I would say, 'No'.

The '50s was a pretty wonderful time for people, it was hopeful.

I come from a small town and I come from a background where we didn't have money to travel. I thought I'd have to join the military to get to Europe. So I'm thrilled to travel.

I'm a natural ham. It doesn't bother me to perform.

I write my own songs, and I only see their flaws.