Tony Bennett

One of the advantages of growing older is you learn what to leave out.

If you follow your passions, you’ll never work a day in your life.

I still insist that American performers are the best performers in the world.

To work is to feel alive.

In my music, I’m trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it’s difficult is because I’m changing all the time.

The only thing better than singing is more singing.

I used to play – when I first started trying to be professional, I disk jockey from 1949 to 1955 in Memphis, Tennessee, and I was quite popular there as a disk jockey.

Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.

It’s very difficult for me to dislike an artist. No matter what he’s creating, the fact that he’s experiencing the joy of creation makes me feel like we’re in a brotherhood of some kind… we’re in it together.

It’s either hip or it ain’t.

I was unfashionable before anyone knew who I was.

I like jazz, rock n’ roll, some hip hop – I can’t think of any music I don’t like.

Jazz music has become academic. Sometimes that doesn’t feel right to me.

I don’t intend to be a performing flea anymore. I was the dreamweaver, but although I’ll be around I don’t intend to be running at 20,000 miles an hour trying to prove myself. I don’t want to die at 40.

I think that those elements – light and sound – are beyond democratic. They’re into the creative part of life.

Sometimes it’s to your advantage for people to think you’re crazy.

Jazz fans love Miles and I love him for a myriad of reasons, but the overviews are always too simplistic.

I don’t try to please when I play. I try to cure.

You want the listener to find the song on their own, give too much away and it takes away from the imagination.