Every band had their own distinctive sound, but it was pretty much dancing music and rhythmic music with a tremendous emphasis on copying the Cuban models.

There was a lot of stuff happening in Havana that was being heard and appreciated by New Orleans musicians because of this situation. And vice versa.

People are a lot smarter than anyone gives them credit for being.

Everyone comes back. It makes no difference how far we wander, we always have our country, our land, in our souls and our minds.

So that when I came to New York again, it was, I'm not too sure right now, but it was '74 or '75. I went to Miami in '74 and then I came to New York, I think, at the end of '74.

I was a kid, and I remember my mother singing. She was also a radio soap opera actress, but my mother sang.

Yes, I was going to law school and it was closed in '69.