Benny [Carter] opened the eyes of a lot of producers and studios, so that they could understand that you could go to blacks for other things outside of blues and barbecue. He's a total musician. He was the pioneer, he was the foundation. He made it possible for that doubt to be taken away.

Every day you must be able to say, I have to get up because I'm needed by someone. As long as you have that, you're healthy.

It has been proven time and time again in countless studies that students who actively participate in arts education are twice as likely to read for pleasure, have strengthened problem-solving and critical thinking skills, are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair.

You have to know that your real home is within.

Everybody has their idiosyncrasies.

The act of multitrack recording is the act of arranging.

My earliest memories are being pinned to a fence with a switchblade.