I do believe that my whole success goes back to that time I was arrested as a wayward boy at the age of thirteen. Because then I had to quit running around and began to learn something. Most of all, I began to learn music.

I was determined to play my horn against all odds, and I had to sacrifice a whole lot of pleasure to do so.

The first time I heard Jack Teagarden on the trombone, I had goose pimples all over.

I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show. My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people.

All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song.

I believe that every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.