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

Let's not get too full of ourselves. Let's leave space for God to come into the room.

Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old shared a little of what he is good at doing.

You cannot get an A if you're afraid of getting an F.

After every war, there was a significant change in the music, and I can understand how that happened. If you participate in protecting the country, you think you can be part of it, but you come back home and it's worse than ever.

My son is a hip-hop producer.

I've been driven all my life by a spirit of adventure and a criminal level of optimism. I believed in my dreams because they were my only option. The people who make it to the top are addicted to their calling. You have to honor the gift God has given you. The people who get the call are the ones who'd be doing whatever it is they love, even if they weren't being paid.