Prisoners are the greatest audience that an entertainer can perform to.

That was the big thing when I was growing up, singing on the radio. The extent of my dream was to sing on the radio station in Memphis. Even when I got out of the Air Force in 1954, I came right back to Memphis and started knocking on doors at the radio station.

You can ask the people around me. I don't give up. I don't give up. I don't give - and it's not out of frustration and desperation that I say I don't give up. I don't give up because I don't give up. I don't believe in it.

A rose looks grey at midnight, but the flame is just asleep. And steel is strong because it knows the hammer and white heat.

When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry.

I always loved those songs. And with my high tenor, I thought I was pretty good - you know? - almost as good as Dennis Day.

People ask me who is my favorite country artist. I say, you mean besides George Jones.