I never said I was a genius. I never said I was a cornerstone. I've never said I'm a legend in my own time. You never heard me say nothing like that.

What makes my approach special is that I do different things. I do jazz, blues, country music and so forth. I do them all, like a good utility man.

Sometimes my dreams are so deep that I dream that I'm dreaming.

If you can play the blues, you can do anything.

What I've got to live up to, is being myself. If I do that, the rest will take care of itself.

Many times during auditions, I was told that I couldn't carry a note with a bucket, and that I sure couldn't play the piano.

I set my own rhythm, and I do believe it was usually a little faster than most other people's.