John Mayall

I never really thought about becoming a professional musician.

The way I look at it, they’re all part of my musical diary, and I can listen to any one of them and it will bring up memories of what was going on at that time.

I always make it a point to pick songs on which players really shine.

You have to pack as much as you can in an hour or 70 minutes. This time around it was 15 songs, so it was a challenge to get them all the right length so you could get them all on.

Working with people, the musical part is one thing but the personal part is totally different and just as critical. If the friendship is there and it’s a lasting friendship, then it will take care of itself.

I managed to pick out some pretty special people.

I’ve studied all my musical life, but learning is only good if you do something constructive with it.

I became a singer to sing my songs. They’re so hip who else is going to sing them?

Jazz stands for freedom.

Just ’cause I’ve forgotten more than I can play, doesn’t mean it’s not Improv.

I do Jazz, Blues, Country and so forth. I do them all like a good utility man.

Don’t play the saxophone. Let it play you.

I guess what everyone wants more than anything else is to be loved. And to know that you loved me for my singing is too much for me. Forgive me if I don’t have all the words. Maybe I can sing it and you’ll understand.

I guess you can look at me, and tell I’m the old man. My name is BB King.

I think the most important thing about playing is to walk out with confidence, look the people right in the eye and say ‘Here I am,’ and go and do your thing. As soon as they know you’re confident, they’re confident. As long as you adjust to them you’re not in trouble. You should eyeball them, find out what they want, and give it to them. They didn’t pay to come out and look at the tapestries.

In composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds, in improvisation you have 15 seconds.

I’ve never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.

Jazz music will continue to thrive, possibly in unexpected ways.

In Europe they look upon jazz as art. In America it’s a diversion. Somebody opens a restaurant and installs another band off to the side. People don’t listen.

I simply want to reach a level where I will never cease to make progress…so that, even on the bad evenings, I may never be bad enough to despair.

A guitar is something you can hold and love and it’s never going to bug you. But here’s the secret about the guitar – it’s defiant. It will never let you conquer it. The more you get involved with it, the more you realize how little you know.