I went through the whole number, you know. The swing era, the boogie woogie era, the bebop era. Thelonious Monk is still one of my favorites. So a lot of these people had their effect on me.

Ever since the world ended, I don't go out as much

I'm always storing away phrases and ideas and things that I think might turn into songs.

If it's worth remembering, I'll remember it. If something keeps coming back, if I keep thinking of that phrase, if I see manifestations of it at different times and different places, then I feel it's worth making a song out of.

I didn't feel anything [frustraiting]. I just kept working 110 or 120 nights a year.

I sang and wrote songs when I was 12 years old.

I never sit down and write. I just sorta let things form in my brain.