Fats Waller

If you don’t know what it is, don’t mess with it

Be sure it’s true when you say I love you. It’s a sin to tell a lie. Millions of heart have been broken. Just because these words were spoken.

If you don’t know what it is, don’t mess with it.

No one to talk with, all by myself. No one to walk with, but I’m happy on the shelf.

Whenever I’m with you alone. You weave a magic spell and though it be a danger zone. I only know that you’re swell.

This is so nice, it must be illegal.

All of the technique doesn’t matter… only if the feeling is right.

We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about but try to be yourself while you’re doing so.

Critics don’t buy records. They get ’em free.

I am an American citizen and feel I am entitled to the same rights as any other citizen.

It became a kind of a game, to remember the things that had happened five minutes ago. I would start making notes about the things I was doing, on an instrument that was foreign to me, the guitar, so it was just a fun way of doing cognitive therapy. I was none the wiser to it until I began to improve and my ability to speak began to come back.

I don’t care about the rules, if I don’t break the rules at least 10x every song then I’m not doing my job.

If you take the time and your talent is real, it will last.

Let your life be your music and let your music be your life.

I write about moments, and I don’t make blanket statements about anything because no one has all the answers; nobody’s come up with a foolproof way to do anything when it comes to emotions.

Music does not come to you. You have to come to it and you’ll walk away with something you didn’t have before.

To me, singing is like talking. If it ain’t natural, it ain’t right.

Live music is best! Make plans to get out and support your local Jazz scene.

You have to sound sad first, then maybe later you can sound good.

Music is an extraordinary vehicle for expressing very powerful emotions. That’s what draws people towards it.

I always try to teach by example and not force my ideas on a young musician. One of the reasons we’re here is to be a part of this process of exchange.