All guys get into music because they love music and they also want to get the girls.

Making a record is like painting a school bus with a toothbrush

It's easy to get next to music theory, especially between your peers and music classes and so forth. You just pay attention. I had a good ear, so I realized that printed music was just about reminding you what to play.

I found this out over the years, that racism is a thinly veiled disguise over economics and money. It really is.

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.

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.

I went with Lionel Hampton for three years. Out of that came a trip to Europe.