Shaken, I leaned in to the microphone and said, Good morning. This is my first day ever on the radio. I’ve always wanted to be on the air. I’ve been practicing all weekend. A few minutes ago, they gave me my new name. I’ve had a theme song ready to play, but my mouth is dry. I’m nervous. And the general manager just kicked open the door and said, ‘This is a communications business!’”

That’s how my career started on May 1, 1957. Years later, Arthur Godfrey would tell me, “The only secret in this business is…there is no secret.” He was right. I learned a great lesson on my first day. There’s no trick to being yourself. I don’t think I’ve ever been nervous on the air since then.

-Larry King on how he came to fame