“I used to think the whole world was Jewish.” — Neil Sedaka

I did have my beginnings in doo-wop music; I had a group called the Tokens in Brooklyn. They went on, of course, to do 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' and a lot of other great things. I went on as a soloist. But I still love doo-wop music.

My teachers said, 'Always keep a Beethoven sonata under your fingers.' I always have. I still play chamber music, and I always play classical.

I love kids. I think I'm a child at heart.

Howie Greenfield and I started writing music when I was 13 and he was 16. We lived in the same building.