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The problem was the journalists who also did not understand much of my music, but they wrote about it. I think you fell into the usual trap laid out by parts of the press and other writers: that the poor musician has always to fight the evil companies and managers.

I am not really certain how original my contribution to music is as I am obviously an amateur.

For too long, musicians have been the greatest enemy of music. Their lack of desire to proselytize is a kind of betrayal.

I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer, and a merely competent songwriter. What I do, in my opinion, is by no means extraordinary.

I was a fairly good amateur musician, and I was an average professional. But the one thing I saw was that the big band business was fading. So I made an economic decision, and it turned out the best judgment I ever made in my life.

If everyone in the music business were brutally honest about what their intentions were then you could sort things out, but it's all smoke and mirrors.

I resent the implication that I'm less of a musician and a worse person for not appreciating certain works.

Punishing people for listening to music is exactly the wrong way to protect the music business.

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.

I should in fairness add that my taste in music is reputedly deplorable.