I played a Spaniard. I looked about as Spanish as any other fair-skinned German.

I just wrote a book, but don't go out and buy it yet, because I don't think it's finished yet.

One time I introduced my orchestra as the Shampoo Music Makers instead of the Champagne Music Makers.

Never trust anyone completely but God. Love people, but put your full trust only in God.

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

We really were a very musical family. In spite of the fact that we were so poor when I was a youngster that supper was often just a bowl of bread and milk, Father somehow managed to squeeze out enough pennies to buy us a small pump organ, and I just loved this instrument too.

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.