Love songs are one of the great essences of life, the only thing thats lasting.

No matter what they take from me, they can't take away my dignity.

I've had the pleasure of playing with the baddest Jazz cats on the planet.

The melody is the most important thing that must stay in the minds of the people who listen to you. No matter how many notes you play, you can't let them forget what the song is.

As my career has progressed, I've had the pleasure of playing with the baddest jazz cats on the planet. But that doesn't change my desire to entertain folks. That's really who I am.

I spent a lot of time teaching myself theory and harmony so I could be free to express myself on the instrument.

Guitar gigs were everywhere in the '50s, and I started diddling around so I could keep working. Playing honky-tonk, simple stuff. I took a few gigs with an organ band that put me out front.