In spite of the Depression, or maybe because of it, folks were hungry for a good time, and an evening of dancing seemed a good way to have it.

I have a tremendous desire to learn, and to grow, and to develop whatever I have that will make for any kind of improvement in me.

I expected to be a farmer like my father and brothers. Life seemed pleasant and orderly.

I was so anxious to succeed that I made a practice of appearing on all the disc jockey shows I could, in order to publicize the band.

Dreams do come true, even for someone who couldn't speak English and never had a music lesson or much of an education.

When my parents first arrived there, North Dakota had just been admitted to the Union, and the country was still wild and harsh.

I realized some of the pitfalls of being well-known; it was nice if you were successful, but it made it just that much harder to take when you failed.