- [on wife Julie London] She is not a Julie London fan. She honestly doesn't realize how good she is. She's never really been a performer, she doesn't have that need to go out and please an audience and receive accolades. She's always been withdrawn, very introverted. She hated those big shows. I couldn't wait to do them, and she was only glad when they were over.
- [on a popular '70s TV show that required attention] Of all the television programs in the United States, I think Emergency! (1972) did the most public service, because when we started no one had ever heard of a paramedic program. There were only three in the country, by the time we finished six or seven years later, there were thousands of them, there's a common word.
- [of wife Julie London, who played Nurse Dixie 'Dix' McCall on Emergency! (1972)] It was ideal for me, I've been working clubs for about 26 year in Los Angeles, Julie would be on the road, we have seven children between us, and on my day off, my kids would say, 'Daddy, stay home,' and Julie would say, 'Come to Cleveland,' and it was wonderful to be together.
- [on how he met his wife, Julie London] The way I remember meeting her was this. I was playing the "Celebrity Room" and, one night, she walked in. I was singing a song and she walked by the bandstand and I thought, "That's one of the most strikingly beautiful girls I've ever seen". Fortunately I knew Kay Saunders, the girl she was with. Kay is the wife of Herman S. Saunders. Herm's a trio leader who's working as a casting director for Julie's ex, Jack Webb, although at the time he had a trio at the Bantam Cock. Anyhow, knowing Kay, I thought, I can easily sit down at the table and get introduced. So I was.
- The best way to relax is not to relax. You must keep your body and mind active. This is the best way I know to stay free from hangups.
- Sit on your duff and you'll become a mental and physical puff.
- [talking about his twin boys playing the piano]: I'd be delighted if the boys decided to take up music as a profession. It's done wonders for Julie [wife Julie London] and me.
- [on making the transition from singer to actor] After playing nightclubs for 27 years, it was difficult to adjust myself to working days. I was used to going to bed at 5 or 6 in the morning and sleeping all day. There were times when I almost forgot what the sun looked like. I loved singing and playing the live audiences in clubs. But I don't miss it as much any more, because I think the series is the nicest thing that ever happened to me.
- [in 1975] I am totally disenchanted with stage music, and I resent the lack of musicianship among today's kids. I just can't relate to them. I have always enjoyed performing and composing, but I can't delude myself. My era is past.
- [in 1976] Well, somebody back there has been calling me about working in Michael's Pub.
- A young man I know who is very close to The Carpenters says he needs five new songs for an album. I picked out five of the best I've written in the last few years and he showed them to The Carpenters. Know what they said? That they were too old-fashioned. I guess I could write music that would sell today, but that would mean compromise--and I don't want to do that.
- [on why he never said he never worked on club dates prior to co-starring opposite Julie London, his real-life wife on Emergency! (1972)] It's mainly because there are no clubs available here in Los Angeles for groups like mine, for my kind of music.
- [about writing the song "Route 66"] I wrote half the song riding along in the car.
- [asked if he thought musical tastes in America might someday go back to simpler days when melody, not the beat, predominated] I don't know, I guess I'm pessimistic. But I'd love to be proven wrong.
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