Quote

Benny Goodman was one of the big influences as a clarinet player. That's why I wanted the clarinet.

My dad loved black singers. So listening to New Orleans music, eventually I wanted to play an instrument.

My primary influences were the best jazz players from the 50's and 60's and later some of the pop people from the same time period along with the better of the well known blues musicians.

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.

Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.

Seriously though, my father was the first African American to sign a contract with the Metropolitan Opera so I grew up with classical music and jazz in the home all the time.

I have often been told that I have many of the same mannerisms as Jack Benny and certainly Bob Cummings.

I started off playing the clarinet, after I was inspired by listening to my dad's Benny Goodman records.

Bernstein grew up in my building in New York. He's a very, very fine player. When he was a kid, he came by to find out what was going on in the world of jazz.