There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.

My appearance was always good and my ability to play on the piano, especially ragtime, which was then at the height of its vogue, made me a welcome guest.

As yet, the Negroes themselves do not fully appreciate these old slave songs.

It is from the blues that all that may be called American music derives it most distinctive characteristics.

I thought of Paris as a beauty spot on the face of the earth, and of London as a big freckle.

The fortress inspired a tremendous confidence. It was the only propeller driven aircraft I have flown that was completely viceless; there were no undesirable flight characteristics. The directional stability was excellent and, properly trimmed, the B-17 could be taken off, landed and banked without change of trim.

But I must own that I also felt stirred by an unselfish desire to voice all the joys and sorrows, the hopes and ambitions, of the American Negro, in classic musical form.