My very first was in a school play somewhere around the age of 5 to 7. Had to sing a ditty. I LIKE TO SEE THE TRAFFIC COP, I LIKE TO SEE HIM STAND, AND SHOW THE PEOPLE WHERE TO GO BY MOVING JUST HIS HAND. I remember thinking at the time, "What is a traffic"? I was raised in a very rural area with no more than a dozen cars in the whole village.

My first paid gig was for the Knighs of Pythias in 1951. Three dollars for two songs, got hooked right there!