All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least, it isn't that way in my work.

Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and feeling of the American people more than any other style of folk music.

Summertime And the living is easy Fish are jumpin' And the cotton is high Oh, your daddy's rich And your mama's good lookin' So hush little baby now don't you cry One of these mornin's You're gonna rise up singin' Then you'll spread your wings And take to the sky But til that mornin' Ain't nothin' can harm you With your daddy And your mammy standin' by.

Not many composers have ideas. Far more of them know how to use strange instruments which do not require ideas.

The European boys have small ideas but they sure know how to dress 'em up.

What the hell do you want to work for somebody else for? Work for yourself!

It sounds simple, of course, but personally I can think of no more mentally arduous task than making music.