I really feel that if you're gonna be good, you gotta practice... Practice whatever the hell you do.

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

My music had roots which I'd dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil.

Affluence separates people. Poverty knits 'em together. You got some sugar and I don't; I borrow some of yours. Next month you might not have any flour; well, I'll give you some of mine.

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.

Nowadays they say you need a special chip to put in the TV so kids can't watch this and that. In my day, we didn't need a chip. My mom was the chip. End of story.

Art Tatum -- he was a genius. And Einstein, not me.