Chris Isaak

“I think as far as self-promotion goes, I probably have a lot to learn.”

“I got by as a musician since day one. I don't live beyond my means. I have real cheap tastes.”

“There was a misconception about me when I started off because I had my hair greased up and I have some vague resemblance to the hillbilly gene pool that Elvis came from. People would say, 'You want to be Elvis' and I would say, 'No'.”

“I didn't grow up in the typical happy American home, but music was always a safe and wonderful place for me to go.”

“The '50s was a pretty wonderful time for people, it was hopeful.”

“I think I had kind of an advantage. When I was growing up, my dad had just got out of jail and he had a great record collection. He had - it was all - these were the songs. So I heard a lot of these songs, like, my whole life, so for me it was easy. I already knew what I was going to sing.”

“I'm a natural ham. It doesn't bother me to perform.”

“When I play it I look out and see people hold on to each other and dance or just couples leaning into each other and kiss. And I'll go: 'You know, I could have worked hard at school and been a dentist. But I'm so glad I didn't.' Because when I look out and see that I feel like the Pied Piper of love.”

“My mom and dad played this music all the time when I was growing up, so to me songs by Jerry Lee and Fats Domino are the classics, they're the best songs ever.”

“I think I'm in a really nice position, where I'm sure I could do another show if I wanted to do one, but right now the main thing in my mind is writing songs.”

“The things that got me through grade school are helping me out later in life. It's like, I show up on time. If you buy a ticket to one of my shows, I'll show up. I'll be there. And if it says 10:00, I'll be on stage at 10:00.”

“In the long run, there are people who've made more money or had bigger stardom at points. But, I think I'll have come out winning.”

“I'm not the kind of guy to talk about angels: I'm a very pragmatic kind of guy.”

“I write my own songs, and I only see their flaws.”

“I think I've had the slowest, most methodical career in the business.”

“I put music on and I drive around town.”

“I'm the star of stage, screen, and television now, but I'm also available for children's parties and bar mitzvahs.”

“My only expenses are probably guitar strings and records.”