Goodbye don't mean gone.

Music is my life, professionally, for nearly 60 years. To be recognized by the academy is still the highest honor.

I can't help what I sound like. What I sound like is what i am. You know? I cannot be anything other that what I am.

It's like Duke Ellington said, there are only two kinds of music - good and bad. And you can tell when something is good.

I cant retire from music any more than I can retire from my liver. Youd have to remove the music from me surgically—like you were taking out my appendix.

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.

You never can overwhelm an instrument. You will never get out all that's in an instrument. An instrument will bring you to your limits.