And fortunately, I haven't had any problem with my voice. I've been able to sing at a level of consistency that the people are expecting.
But I am very grateful for my success, and with success, of course, comes a whole lot of celebrity.
Even though there's no forum for me on the radio for the kind of music I sing anymore, I am still excited about having a career where I can sing the best music in the world, and people will come and hear me because of the hit records I've had in the past.
I also met, early on Ella Fitzgerald. Her songbooks are some of the most amazing bodies of work.
I knew I wanted to sing for the rest of my life so I knew I would have to stay in shape. I work out at a gym five days a week.
I love the house that I've been living in for over 40 years. I really am a homebody and I still love to play golf.
I really don't tour anymore. I go out two, maybe three times a month, and then I come back home and rev up my energy.
I really, really enjoy music and that's why I do what I do.
I think there are a lot of people who really want to be famous, they really do. I don't. It sort of gets in the way of the everyday things that I do.
I'm just one of the lucky people. I have no other reason for my longevity.
In other words, the celebrity gets out of hand, and if you're not careful, you will forget what you are about - and that is you are about making music that people want to hear.
It's just that some people are lucky and people still seem to enjoy the music.
It's very much like opera singers. They do the same thing. The first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, the thing they think about is their voice and how to take care of it.
Little did I know the excesses this life can lead you into. I used to smoke and drink. I gave up cigarettes 35 years ago, drinking six years ago.
My favorite singer to this day is Nat King Cole. I've tried to emulate his phrasing. It is so absolutely beautiful to listen to his lovely voice.
Sometimes being famous gets in the way of doing what you want to do.
When I do an album I try to find a producer that's excited about something that they want me to sing, and I check with the record company to find out what they think they can sell - which is their No. 1 priority.
When I was 12 and started to take singing lessons from a woman, she told me that I would probably spend the rest of my life taking care of my voice.
When you do interviews, you have to talk about yourself - and I like to find out about other people. I am so familiar with everything that I do. I've said it over and over again. I think it is boring.
You have to make sure you don't overdo one thing or the other, especially at a certain age, especially with the voice. You can't beat it to death.
I think a commission set up to examine slavery and the consequences of it, would probably be a very fruitful, important dialogue for the United States to be involved in.
If any Democrat signs off, that member will pay; his constituents will know how he voted and it will come from me.
You can share a link to this page with your friend!