You have to know that your real home is within.

Arts is just as important as military defense, you know? Emotional defense is just as important.

You want your parents to say, "Hey, I'm proud of you." When you don't hear that, you learn to compensate. You say, "Hell, I don't need their approval. If I get my music right, I'll have everyone else's approval." I didn't understand it then, but I now know that's what happened to me.

A lot of the guys were like that - Oscar Pettiford - they just took me under their wing, and that's why I automatically help young people. I just love it, because they did that for me.

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

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

I never felt like I had a mother.