You don't think it was because a white man wrote it, a black man wrote it, a green man wrote it. What-doesn't make a difference!

I think it was just an opera. Now, you go to opera, you expect to see and hear what the opera is. So, it was Catfish Row. It was singers. Marvelous voices. It didn't make no difference what color they were

What opera isn't violent? Two things happen, violence and love. And other than that, name something else. You can't

Pass that thing, slightly, lightly and politely.

It's very difficult to photograph an opera. And they messed up on it. It just wasn't there. And I don't blame the Gershwins for taking it away. Of course, if they had gotten the original company to have done it, it would have been very good

A phoenix ain't nuthin' but a burd.

And then there's my Grandson: He's certainly got the music together, there's just no question about it.