I think I've done a lot in this business, whether through screwball methods or not I don't know, that has helped other bands. I made a kind of road for them, you might say. If I raised my price, they found out about it and raised theirs. But somebody had to start it, to make the first move. You have to have the courage and confidence in your own ability. You have to know what the hell and who the hell you are in this business. Music may change, but I don't think that ever will.

People have often said to me, 'You're so relaxed when you play.' Relaxed my elbow. It's practice.

As soon as it was understood that we could handle things in our own way, it was the thrill of my life to walk out on that stage with people just hemming the band in.

After you’ve done all the work and prepared as much as you can, what the hell, you might as well go out and have a good time.

I remember Glenn Miller coming to me once, before he had his own band, saying, How do you do it? How do you get started? It's so difficult. I told him, I don't know but whatever you do don't stop. Just keep on going.

If I have something I want to do, I make a business of doing it.

It takes the black keys and the white keys both, to make perfect harmony.