Willie ‘the Lion’ Smith

You give up your own personality when you imitate somebody.

I was really running a music school back then, because my band wasn’t making any money. I keep talking about money, because most people don’t understand the part of money in running a band.

Its all about finding the right note at the right place and knowing when to leave it alone.

I was probably six years old when I first sang before an audience.

Music opens up minds to dream great dreams about where you can go and what you can do.

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else.

Jazz will only go where we the composers and musicians take it. It is up to us.

The point of Jazz is, you do something and then you go on.

Mozart tapped the source from which all music flows, expressing himself with a spontaneity and refinement and breathtaking rightness.

I’ve never written a political song. Songs can’t save the world. I’ve gone through all that.

Ahhh – those Jazz guys are just makin’ that stuff up!

If you got up on the bandstand at Minton’s and couldn’t play, you might get your ass kicked.

The fabulous places I’ve been, wonderful things that’ve happened, great people I’ve met ought to make a story.

Jazz – it takes passion to make it happen!

To get the music the way you want it, there’s a lot of work involved.