Billy Eckstine

You can’t sing about love unless you know about it.

If you want to be a musician, study your craft. Study music.

I’m not much on gimmicks. I never have been because they don’t last.

Music is a verb.

The first time I went to Paris, it just felt like I was home. I didn’t question it.

I do the best I can with any instrument I get attracted to. But they’re just tools in order for you to express yourself and that’s really the upshot of it.

Music is the greatest communication in the world.

The essentials of Jazz are: melodic improvisation, melodic invention, swing and instrumental personality.

I have younger friends who don’t work and they aren’t doing so well. My secret is to keep going, keep working.

The only thing better than singing is more singing.

Give it a good go, try to have fun at it, try to pass on some good notes and some good sounds to your fans, and I don’t think you will have wasted your time.

A wise man practices slowly; but a wiser man practices even slower.

You can make a saxophone into an electric organ; you can do everything with it.

If you play a tune and a person don’t tap their feet, don’t play the tune.

Invest yourself in everything you do. There’s fun in being serious.

When you are studying Jazz best thing to do is listen to records and live music as much you can and absorb everything.

I listen to all kinds of songs. There’s something to be learned from every type of music and from the one making it, whether it’s pop or jazz or hip-hop.

I’ve been told that nobody sings the word ‘hunger’ like I do.