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

I knew nothing of the real life of a musician, but I seemed to see myself standing in front of great crowds of people, playing my accordion.

I just had an idea that went right over my head.

I have never been an innovator, a creative genius.

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.

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

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

His act may start out slow, but it tapers off.

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.

For a while we had trouble trying to get the sound of a champagne cork exploding out of the bottle. I solved the problem by sticking my finger in my mouth and popping it out.

If any performer has quality in his voice he can almost always be helped to develop all the other necessary attributes.

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

If they can't hum it after we play it, it's not for us.

If you put all your strength and faith and vigor into a job and try to do the best you can, the money will come.

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.