Session musicians kind of respected me because what I was talking about made sense. That all came from an education. Believe me, education does you more good. Maybe that’s the reason I’ve been around so long.

Hey, we’ve all been to high school We’ve seen the in-crowds. Most of us have been in the outer crowds, the people who weren’t in. Although I was never in, I was selling records and was very happy.

As far as critics, I’m not a hip guy. I was never on drugs. Nobody ever felt sorry for me ’cause I went straight or found God. I always had God. I’ve always like, played by the rules.

Today, you’re either very big or you’re playing stadiums or you’re not playing anymore. You’re either popular where everybody will go to a 20,000 seat arena to see you or they won’t go to see you at all.

All around as a person, on right decisions, on holding your money, on doing your trade, a good education is a must. I don’t think I would’ve done as good without an education.

They said hey look, The Beatles deserve to be number one, not Bobby Vinton. We’re gonna cut your tires. Change that listing. They were dedicated at the time.

I played Big Band jazz music. I wasn’t into rock and roll. I was just there because it was a living. I surprised everyone. I’m still surprising people.

I must tell you, to get started today must be very difficult ’cause whatever it takes today is very tough. They have to invest a million dollars in a video just to see if you have a hit record.

Times were changing. Clothes were changing. Morals were changing. We went from romantic loves songs like I used to do to rock ’n roll. Now that has changed to rap. So, there’s always a new generation with new music.

All my songs were solo voices. Just me singing. In fact, that was the gimmick – no gimmick. Just singing straight with not too much background.