Ever since I can remember, I have been talking and performing...

...it was 1970 and I was imitating Richard Nixon, cartoon characters, and the Beatles - much to the delight of my older brothers, sisters, and their friends.  "Your little brother is funny," they would say.  "He should be on the cartoon shows."

...in 1976, I designed, produced, and staged a magic show at my local public library for a few friends.  Much to my horror, over 100 kids showed up!  Much to my amazement, the bad magic was forgotten and the show was saved by my vocal impersonations of tv characters.  "You sound just like Jimmie 'JJ' Walker," they would say.  "You should be on TV."

...in 1979 a friend's mom who was into numerology, astrology, and TM said I would have a career that would involve talking and influencing people.  "You have a very calming voice," she would say.  "You should be a minister."

...in 1981 I started a rock band (my favorite song was one in which I sang with many weird voices).  "You've got a wild voice," people would say.  "You should be on the Dr. Demento show."

...1983 - Voted "Most Likely To Become A Game-Show Host" by my classmates.  "You sound like a used-car salesman," they would say.  "You should make commercials."

...in 1986, my co-workers used to beg me to page people over the PA system for them.  "You've got a powerful voice," they would say.  "You should be making answering machine messages."

...Later in life, I became a reader in my church.  "I could listen to you for hours," some people would say.  "You should do something with your wonderful voice."

...So - here I am. 

I finally stopped talking long enough to listen...