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When people say Jerry Lee Lewis invented rock n' roll, they forget Little Richard. People talk about Elvis Presley and forget he was singing black music. I don't blame Elvis. It was the music business figuring it could make more money from this music if it weren't presented from the original source.

I totally related to Cole Porter's magnetic pull to any piano that was in the room, which he was famous for doing, as was Gershwin. You couldn't drag them away from a piano.

Charlie Christian played amplified guitar with Benny Goodman's quartet. He was the greatest guitar player that ever was. But he never looked up from the guitar. But I put a little dance to it. They appreciate seein' something along with hearin' something.

As far as other instrumentalists, I used to love mellow sax players like Paul Desmond. I love piano.

I'm a big fan of piano-based rock music like Elton John, Ben Folds, and even Queen.

There was not a lot of rock n' roll in the house. Our parents didn't think it was very groovy, and I tend to agree with them. If you grew up with Charlie Parker, Bill Haley wasn't very hip.

Billy Joel and Joe Jackson were both great, and they both play piano.

My father was always playing the piano. He played all kinds of music - Gershwin, all kinds of stuff.

To me, the sax is rock n' roll, even though electric guitars kind of pushed it aside for a while.

I thought Jimi Hendrix... was just phenomenal.