Speech lessons probably did more for my singing voice - they teach you breathing, resonance.

I took speech training. I took a few voice lessons in college.

I don't believe in singing lessons. You can sing or you can't.

I can understand why it takes some people a long time to really be a singer. You have to find out, 'Why am I singing? What am I doing this for?' I do it because I enjoy it, and philosophically, music is a catalyst. It's a refining agent.

I was taking singing lessons, and they'd say, 'Your voice is too hoarse. You have to do more exercises.'

I sang barber shop harmony and sort of got into performing. And it just came naturally. Then, when I was in college after the war, I did a play, 'Pygmalion,' by George Bernard Shaw. And from then on, I knew that's what I wanted to do.