Duke Ellington

I'm not interested in being a star. I'm interested in being a musician.

The only thing I ever wanted to do was play music.

Love is supreme and music is its messenger.

What is music to you? What does it sound like? What does it feel like? What does it mean to you?

I merely took the energy it takes to pout and instead used it to do something constructive.

The most important thing I have learned is that the music must always come first.

My men and my music are the best two things I have.

We all have our own way of expressing ourselves. I express myself through my music.

I never had a problem with my ego. I just had a problem with other people's egos.

I'm not interested in the past. I'm interested in the future.

The music is the most important thing. The rest is just noise.

I'm not a composer. I'm a painter of sounds.

I don't believe in categories. I believe in music.

The blues are a part of life. They're not just a style of music.

I'm not trying to be famous. I'm just trying to make good music.

My greatest inspiration is the sound of my band.

I'm always looking for new sounds, new colors, new textures.

The piano is my voice.

I don't write music. I just put it down on paper.

The audience is the most important part of the performance.