I would never try and play like Harry James, because I don't like his tone - for me. It's just white. You know what I mean? He has what we black trumpet players call a white sound. But it's for white music ... I can tell a white trumpet player, just listening to a record. There'll be something he'll do that'll let me know that he's white.

My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer.

With "We Are The World," I can't even eat when I watch that on television. If I'm eatin' some food, I have to put it down. I feel very strongly about that.

The only way a drum machine will get out of beat is for you not to pay your electric bill.

If you're going to drop behind, you have to keep it there.

If you have a tone like mine that is recognizable. No matter what I play, when you hear my tone you can tell it's me.

If you don't know what to play, play nothing.