Acting alongside the larger-than-life star I'd grown up idolizing back in Delight, Arkansas, was truly one of the most memorable experiences of my life. |
Classical Gas. You can play this song with a symphony, or you can play with a couple of guitars. That's what we're going to do. |
Duke insisted that he do his own jump, |
Family reunions are a lot of fun, |
He'd come in and play piano jazz with the band until the A&R man and the producer would go, 'Are you guys ready in there yet?' And he said, 'Well, in just a while.' We'd be jamming. He wouldn't pay any attention to it. I remember the session -- (it was for) Lazy Hazy Days Of Summer. |
Here I was, 68 years old, and it's the first time. Well, I said, 'I guess I've done that now.' I got a little special treatment. I got to stay in an area for non-violent prisoners and all that jazz. There was about four of us in the facility there. |
I can't tell you how short a period it seems like -- 32 years -- to 1967. And now I'm up here getting the Pioneer Award. Then I was getting the go get 'em award. |
I didn't like acting 'cause I didn't know how, ... I was scared to death. I had never done it before. And they didn't tell me anything. 'Say your line!' I was so nervous, man, my voice sounded two octaves higher. |
I guess I'm like Roger Miller who used to say that he didn't have as many jokes as he thought he did. |
I had albums before that, but once the TV show started everything really took off, ... I used that show to get every country act I could onto television. |
I had Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard on my show long before the general public caught up to them, ... I also had Eric Clapton and Cream on the program. They were real loud. |
I knew 'Strangers in the Night' was a hit when we recorded it, ... We did it live in the studio with the whole orchestra. ... From doing all those sessions, I learned what I wanted to have when I made my own records. |
I like to start the day early, it keeps me out of trouble. |
I love playing in the South, ... I play lots of concerts in Cleveland and Boston and other cities up North, but I don't feel as comfortable as I do when I'm home in the South. |
I miss him already. He was a unique person and a dear friend. If a record came on the radio, you'd know it was Waylon Jennings. |