As a youngster in the little orphanage home in New Orleans, I was the bugler of the institution. When I got to be around 13 or 14 years old, they took me off the bugle and put me in the little brass band.

My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people.

At first it was just a misdemeanor, but then you lost the "mis-de" and you just got meaner and meaner.

When you're dead, you're done.

We don't play slow and we don't play fast, we play half fast

I don't let my mouth say nothin' my head can't stand.

You've got to be good or as bad as the devil.