Ella Fitzgerald

I’m very shy, and I shy away from people. But the moment I hit the stage, it’s a different feeling I get nerve from somewhere; maybe it’s because it’s something I love to do.

Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.

It isn’t where you came from, its where you’re going that counts.

When we were at the Apollo, Holiday was a block away. I asked her for her autograph.

The only thing better than singing is more singing.

It isn’t where you came from, it’s where you’re going that counts.

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

Jazz is the type of music that can absorb so many things and still be Jazz.

I, of course, wanted to play real jazz. When we played pop tunes, and naturally we had to, I wanted those pops to kick! Not loud and fast, understand, but smoothly and with a definite punch.

I’m sure critics have their purpose, and they’re supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what he did.

Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission far beyond just making music for the sake of music.

When it comes to music, don’t lie to yourself; just tell yourself the truth.

The reason I write music is that I feel it’s a vehicle or channel which leads to your true self, your essence.

You must surrender whatever preconceptions you have about music if you’re really interested in it.

The true musician plays what he/she hears. That cannot be a mistake.

We usually never got out of there before four or five o’clock in the morning. Every morning. So it was rough.

If a guy is gonna to play good bop, he has to have a sort of a bop soul.

I want to create music that’s therapeutic.

I had a really good time in New Orleans, although I had some very tragic times in Baton Rouge. Some guys beat me up and threw my horn away. ‘Cause I had a beard, then, and long hair like the Beatles.

I only knew classical music, which to me was the only true music. The only way I could survive at the bar was to mix the classical music with popular songs, and that meant I had to sing. What happened was that I discovered I had a voice plus the talent to mix classical music together with more popular songs, which at the time I detested.

Jazz music today is from the head and not the heart.