A record co. is just a vehicle for public appearances.

I had some airline stock, but the airlines tanked. I didn't have a lot of money in them, though.

I had seventeen No. 1 songs and I didn't see anything like that kind of money.

I guess the nicest thing about being, I won't say famous but being popular is a more proper word for me to use would be that if you've got a recognizable name, a lot of times you can get people to do things for you ordinarily that you wouldn't get done.

'Cause I can make more money going in and doing my recordings and selling them through my entities that I have, rather than going to a record co. and them release a record and pay me 5 percent of what they make off it.

Back then I thought if you cut a record, you were automatically a star.

All my money was made doing the dates and selling products when I was out there on the road.

I'm set to have my best year ever: I'm hiring some acts and there will be a show in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. I'm going to use my theater to its fullest potential.

A lost of people recognize me and maybe will ask for an autograph, but it's nothing like if Elvis would've done something like that, 'cause he's so popular, or maybe The Beatles 'cause they stirred up a lot of action.

All I want to do is do my shows and play golf.

There used to be a lot of acts, which was good, because people don't want to see the same act every night. But, you don't want too many acts, you don't want to over-saturate it.

I try to stay ahead of things, if you know what I mean. I take the money I make and reinvest it.

Well, I got people that help me with the restaurant. I don't have to be at the restaurant 24 hours a day.

So I'm trying to spread myself to the point to where I can do the night shows and not have to worry about the matinees, and do one or two matinees down through the year.

My only failure was the restaurant in Myrtle Beach. I kept it open for four years. It was in a tourist town, it was only busy four and half, five months of the year. But the bills kept coming all year.