As a supposed "folk singer" I would be able to say something "ethnic" about myself like "I was born in East Virginny." But, sorry, I was born in Hilo Hawaii, February 1, 1934. I'm a forth generation islander - which there is a joke about in the islands. They say the missionaries came to the islands to do good and did well. Anyway, while I was in the 9th grade in Punahou High School I decided that I needed something to give me a little boost in the popularity department. I got an inexpensive four-string tenor guitar and played along with the gang. I often tell people that I learned to play and sing in self defense. This is because music is such an integral part of island upbringing. Everyone does it, and if you don't, you aren't with it. The only formal musical training I had at the time was singing in Glee Club. But I did appear in a couple of plays and musicals in bit parts which gave me a little inkling as to what it's like to be on stage in front of a live audience - and I liked it! It wasn't until much later that I realized how necessary (and often fatal) it is to have an ego satisfied in show business.

After graduating from high school I went to Menlo School of Business Administration in Menlo Park, California. Here I met Nick. He ad a car and I had a guitar, and for some strange reason we became inseparable. Shortly thereafter, Nick acquired a set of bongos and we were in business. While in college we played at any and every kind of place and situation that we could to get experience with various audiences.

When I finished college in 1956 I wen home to Honolulu and first worked for Athletic Supply of Hawaii (my dad's wholesale sporting goods and toy firm). Then I worked for Sears Roebuck and concentrated on becoming an entertainer. My act consisted of impersonations of Elvis Harry Belefonte, Hank Williams, Lefty Frizell, Rhythm and blues - and everything, trying to find my own style.

After going as far as I could in the islands. I felt brave enough to try the states again with Nick. Hence the trio was formed, the details of which I'm sure you'll find elsewhere in this handy dandy paperback.

The first time the trio played Honolulu I had a blind date (arranged by my father!) with the best looking girl I'd ever seen. Six months later, March 15, 1959, Louise Brandon and I were married in Washington DC The next day I went back on the road and for the first year of our marriage I was away from home 285 days. It's things like this that make an entertainer re-evaluate his life all the time. You have to either be in it all the way or not. If you kids who are so sold on show business think this is glamorous, think again.

When our first little girl, Joan Glancy Shane (Jody), was born May 4, 1961, I was there briefly and gone. When our second girl, Susan Hull Shane (Tutu because Jody couldn't say Suzy), was born November 6, 1963 I wasn't there at all. When I think of what a great life this is, I can't help but give most of the credit to my wife who has to stay home and put up with the rough part of it.

Because of all this, I thought it would be nice to have a farm in Georgia (where Louisa is from) to get away to. So we bought Kingston Farm in Roswell, Georgia as a summer place. It seems we now spend most of out time there. What more, with every convenience including privacy, could anyone one want? We live quietly with Joker, Duke Camille and Sugar Plum, the horses; two cats, Jasper and Blackie, and our old English Sheep Dog, Pooh Bear. We have two cars, Louisa has a Cadillac with auto stereo to listen to the competition, and I have a Shelby A.C. Cobra, bright red; I don't race but I sure have fun with hot rods. I shoot skeet as much as possible and have a few trophies so that it's not a complete waste of money. I chose shotguns because Louisa is a champion with pistols.

I am not a folksinger and never will be. I am a singer of folk songs among other things like show tunes and songs written today. My pet peeve is the so-called ethnics who put me down because I'm putting a lot of work into making it a good living. These people should remember that show business is a business intended to entertain, not exclusively a media for airing personal and world problems. When asked if it's fun I reply, "If it weren't enjoyable, I shouldn't and wouldn't be doing it." This means all of it, including all of the shows, promotion, advertising, rehearsing, public relations and charity. I enjoy it all. As I mentioned earlier though, one of the things that can kill you the quickest in show business is your own ego, sometimes you get so puffed up with yourself without realizing it that when someone asks why you think so much of yourself, the air goes completely out of you and you feel like quitting. You have to constantly remind yourself that your a human like everyone else, no better, no worse, and treat all others with the same respect that you require for your own peace of mind.