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

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.

If I live to be 90, and I'm planning to, I'll always love performing for a live audience.

It's curious how we act in moments of personal despair.

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

Conversation didn't seem necessary when I put the accordion down and swung some young lady around the floor.

I like clean ladies and nice ladies.