Kate Smith

Public and employer opinion often defeat society's best interests with a prejudice against middle-aged women.

I shall always respect the composer. If I embellish, it is his idea I am embellishing.

Because of my voice, speaking words which had been carefully chosen, women had used money they had set aside for other purposes to buy war bonds.

I suffer greatly from nerves. I have stage-fright badly, and it gets worse, but the stage is still my life.

I studied international relations and economics at the University of Virginia. I paid my way by working as a bartender in the summer and at three part-time jobs during the year.

People mature at different stages and I feel I'm learning a lot.