Kate Smith
There's no second chance on stage, and I was trained to make the most of my first chance.Collection: Chance
In 29 years, I had recorded over 2,200 songs. I was amazed.Collection: Amazing
I sometimes get that wonderful sympathy between me and the audience, telling me I've reached their hearts. And when I do, the thrill is mine.Collection: Sympathy
I just can't read music.
My singing is part of me, like my stoutness, or my light hair, or my poor eyesight.
Public and employer opinion often defeat society's best interests with a prejudice against middle-aged women.
I have never known stage-fright at any time.
It became obvious in 1957 that I was endangering my health by carrying so much weight.
It is important that the audience should understand every syllable of every word, for only then can they grasp the meaning of the song.
Since I have been singing for so many years, I don't always need to approach a song quite so laboriously and meticulously.
Many people submit to excessive appetites without realizing that they do not need to eat so much food.
In nearly all ballads, the words set the mood and meaning, while the music intensifies or enhances them.
It's up to the audience. It always has been.
I have always examined closely the motives of any group for which I am asked to raise money.
I must work hard to make my singing above reproach; there must be no faults which hard work would take care of.
This nation loves singing and loves acting.
Most of the people who act and sing do so for their own pleasure and that of their friends and family.
Middle-aged women have greater stability, they are more loyal, and their capacity for steady work is greater than that of younger women.
Intelligent analysis of the composer's intention and strict adherence to it automatically ensures sincerity.
If rock-and-roll is well done, there's nothing so terribly wrong with that kind of music. But the lyrics are another story.
Ice cream was my undoing, and six chocolate milk shakes in a row were nothing to me at one time.
I was always daydreaming about singing in big productions on Broadway.
I vowed that whenever my family needed me, I would give up everything to go to them, no matter what. The show must go on was meaningless to me.
I shall always respect the composer. If I embellish, it is his idea I am embellishing.
I learn my songs by ear.
I know I'm fat and I know my hair is straight, but I can sing.
I have personally believed in every product I have ever advertised.
I have been extremely lucky with reviewers and critics throughout my career.
I could see myself in a white nurse's uniform, working unnoticed for many years and at last dying, unknown, unmarried and unsung.
I could not separate myself off stage from myself on stage, as so many actors can.
I am harder on myself than anyone else could be.
I am exceedingly lucky that my voice, along with perfect pitch and perfect rhythm, was given me at birth.
I am continually embarrassed by people who point me out as an example of what can be done without training.
Every small town has its dramatic group, its barber-shop quartet, every home has music in one form or another.
During the presidential primaries of 1940, I received a request from the Democratic National Committee to sing God Bless America before the speeches.
Because of my voice, speaking words which had been carefully chosen, women had used money they had set aside for other purposes to buy war bonds.
As soon as I began to earn what might be called fairly large sums, I bought a car and began to explore the country around New York.
An entertainer should in his public performance keep himself out of any controversy, political or otherwise.
And when all is said and done, there is no greater success in the world than just being happy.Collection: Success
It has been said that genius is only the power of making continuous effort. The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it. We are told that there is no failure, except in no longer trying - no defeat, except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own weakness of purpose.Collection: Effort
I love animals to the extent that my home is my dog's home! Which means that nothing is too good for my Freckles-chairs, couches, beds. But I do draw the line on chipmunks nibbling at my table linens, bedding, blankets, etc.Collection: Dog
after several months of probation work, standing on my feet some ten to twelve hours a day, I decided that as a nurse I was a pretty good entertainer.Collection: Work