To this day, I don't like people walking on stage not looking good. You have to look good. If you feel special about yourself then you're going to play special.

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.

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

Creativity grows out of two things: curiosity & imagination.

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.

I don't have any great love for Chicago. What the hell, a childhood around Douglas Park isn't very memorable. I remember the street fights and how you were afraid to cross the bridge 'cause the Irish kid on the other side would beat your head in. I left Chicago a long time ago.

If a guy's got it, let him give it. I'm selling music, not prejudice.