It was messed up, because in 1947 my family moved to Seattle and I had to get up at 5:00 o'clock in the morning to catch the ferry back to Bremerton every morning because I was Boys Club president.

I was inspired by a lot of people when I was young, every band that came through town, to the theater, or the dance hall. I was at every dance, every night club, listened to every band that came through, because in those days we didn't have MTV, we didn't have television.

I chose the trombone because the trombone players in the marching band got to be up front with the majorettes (because of the slides) and I loved that!

A song should have all the color and beauty of every rose.

When you're over the hill, that's when you pick up speed.

It's amazing how much trouble you can get in when you don't have anything else to do.

Count Basie practically adopted me at 13. We became closer and closer and I ended up conducting for him and Sinatra.