I have a respect for Elvis and my friendship. It ain't my business what he did in private. The only thing I want to know is, 'Was he my friend?', 'Did I enjoy him as a performer?', 'Did he give the world of entertainment something?' - and the answer is YES on all accounts. The other jazz just don't matter.

You don’t swing where you sleep.

The one thing you don't want is that stale sound when you've done a line so much you can't find a fresh approach to it. Drop it.

My mother was born in San Juan. So I'm Puerto Rican, Jewish, colored and married to a white woman. When I move into a neighborhood, people start running four ways at the same time.

I had traveled 10 states and played over 50 cities by the time I was 4.

You name it and I've done it. I'd like to say I did it my way. But that line, I'm afraid, belongs to someone else.

The ultimate mystery is one's own self.