Freddie Green has been my right arm for thirty years. And if he leaves the band one day, I'll probably leave with him.

Keep on listening & tapping your feet.

The real innovators did their innovating by just being themselves.

I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, 'Count Basie. Beware, the Count is Here.'

I, of course, wanted to play real jazz. When we played pop tunes, and naturally we had to, I wanted those pops to kick! Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.

I was always willing to say, "Let's see what happens," when something came up that looked like it might help me get a little closer to where I wanted to be . . .

Learn to deal with the valleys and the hills will take care of themselves.