I firmly believe that we have more latent musical talent in America than there is in any other country. But to dig it out there must be good music throughout the land, a lot of it. Everyone must hear it, and such a process takes time.

Any composer who is gloriously conscious that he is a composer must believe that he receives his inspiration from a source higher than himself.

Jazz will endure just as long people hear it through their feet instead of their brains.

Anybody can write music of a sort. But touching the public heart is quite another thing.

I firmly believe that we have more latent musical talent in America than there is in any other country. But to dig it out there must be good music throughout the land, a lot of it. Everyone must hear it, and such a process takes time.

From childhood I was passionately fond of music and wanted to be a musician. I have no recollection of any real desire ever to be anything else.

America can well expect to develop a goodly amount of composers for she has a goodly number of people.