Music is an attitude. It's a sensation to the average person, to the human being. And keep it simple, stupid. That's always been my theory.

My uncle gave me a trumpet, but I loved the Louis Armstrong sound and the Harry James sound and I played by ear and I played always soulful or very direct from the gut.

Buddy Rich was one of the most incredible technicians in the world, on this planet, but the only people he could really impress, who knew what he was doing was another musician or another drummer.

I always felt people should live with animals.

I can play every instrument there is, every horn, I've played all the saxes and trumpets and everything and keyboards.

I always wanted a guitar. I always wanted to be a cowboy singer because I also listened to Hank Williams, and he would always sing these neat romantic songs.

I became stereotyped.