When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.

The only person who listens to both sides of an argument is the fellow in the next apartment.

There was a time we decided that it was songs that were done especially from my background because of the things we were dealing with, but nowadays, anybody who has a need, and can find the need, they can sing the blues.

We are trying to prove that the blues lives on forever and anybody in this place can sing the blues.

But of course it's different now, the blues is no longer blues, it's green now.

Life is like a butterfly. You can chase, or you can let it come to you.

When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.