He's a genius...a classical dancer like I never saw in my life. - Fred Astaire

As it turned out, you'd think that Fred had been playing serious drama all his life. He breaks your heart. We had to get rid of any signs that this was Fred Astaire, the dancer, and I even thought of putting weights in his shoes to eliminate that jaunty Astaire walk. But I didn't have to do anything. He worked it all out on his own—even to mussing the hair of his toupee to get rid of the sleek look of 'The Hoofer,' as he calls himself.

Q: What great singers of the past do you wish had sung your music?

You're the nimble tread/Of the feet of Fred Astaire