My contributions were many: First clown director, with witty sayings and flashily dressed, now called master of ceremonies.

Rejoice at the death and cry at the birth: New Orleans sticks close to the Scriptures.

I do not claim any of the creation of the blues, although I have written many of them even before Mr. Handy had any blues published. I heard them when I was knee-high to a duck.

Jazz music is to be played sweet, soft, plenty rhythm.

You can't make jazz without using certain elements of Latin music.

In 1908 Handy didn't know anything about the blues and he doesn't know anything about jazz and stomps to this day. I myself figured out the peculiar form of mathematics and harmonies that was strange to all the world but me.

I have been robbed of three million dollars all told. Everyone today is playing my stuff and I don't even get credit. Kansas City style, Chicago style, New Orleans style hell, they're all Jelly Roll style.