I've really gone into business since I got the 6 string, which was like starting all over.

I don't know whether it was his (Charlie Christian's) melodic lines, his sound or his approach, but I hadn't heard anything like that before. He sounded so good and it sounded so easy, so I bought me a guitar and an amplifier and said now I can't do nothing but play! Really, welding was my talent, I think, but I sort of swished it aside.

If a jazz player is really playing, the classical player will have to respect him.

Well, I got pretty good and went on the road with a group. We starved. At that time I didn't realize that you'd work one gig in Kansas City, the next in Florida and the next gig will be in Louisville. You know, a thousand miles a night. That was really rough, man.

Regardless of what you play, the biggest thing is keeping the feel going.

I never practice my guitar. From time to time I just open the case & throw in a piece of raw meat.

When I got pretty good I went on the road with a group. We starved.