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

By 1969, when I celebrated 45 years in the music business, I also had 45 people in our musical family.

I always worried I'd forget my lines or say the wrong words or the audience would laugh in the wrong places.

Over and over I marvel at the blessings of my life: Each year has grown better than the last.

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

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.

Boys, if you don't stick together, how do you expect me to follow you-ah?