They're all artists that I know and have played for me over the years. They're gracious enough to donate things.

People are looking for a way to take action, to do something other than donate on the Turnpike on their way to work, which seems impersonal.

It was less of a battle and more of a showcase of the artists' work. Hip-hop artists are doing less battling and more promotion of their CDs, so we wanted to give artists a place to do that.

[When it started,] I had about 20,000 pilots donate their aircraft and fuel so we could fly 1 million kids by Dec. 17, 2003 (the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight), ... I flew the millionth one at the Nevada County Airport.

It's called gracious professionalism. The idea is to be open and help more people learn.

I want to be as gracious and thankful as I can because it has been a long road.