Count Basie Quotes

More than anybody else I'd like to thank Count Basie for teaching me how to perform.

My music is jazz.

Everybody these days wants to be a star, including myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm a chef but you want to market yourself and your projects.

Jazz is a very accurate, curiously accurate accompaniment to 20th century America.

I also like Western classical music and jazz.

Jazz told people about the special music that came out of America and about America in general and this kind of liberty and freedom that we have.

Darlin... be-bop is the music of the future.

Duke Ellington was famous for hs very original harmonic patterns.

Everybody know, I don't do no promoting. I don't ever have to promote nothing, that's the beauty of Lil Wayne.

Jazz is the American’s preferred music, and it is created by Negroes to satisfy their love of noise and to whet their sexual desires ...

Jazz music is the American's music of choice. This is that music that the Negroes invented to satisfy their primitive inclinations, as well as their desire to be noisy.

I'm not trying to brag, but if I did expose my life, it would be a good YouTube series.

To be a superstar you have to win and you have to have something special. For me, I hope that knocking people out is my something special because I can't sell myself, per se, and become a different person on camera and a different person off camera.

I always acted like a star long before I was one.

I'm an entrepreneur. 'Ambitious' is my middle name.

Jazz is really 20th-century fusion music. You take West African harmony and rhythm, mix with European harmony, and boom!

We need strong personalities and only one world champion to attract sponsors.

Jazz is people's music, a collectivity.

When I was growing up, I said to my ex-girlfriend, 'I will not be successful until everyone in Holland knows my name.' And it worked.

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.

Lately I've been listening to some classical music again, some jazz.

Jazz music is to be played sweet, soft, plenty rhythm.

It's not like I think: 'By the age of 40 I've got to be an international household name.' When the opportunity to perform comes up, then I'll take it. It's really good fun. But because I don't crave the attention or the buzz, it's not like I'm desperate for it.

A few years later, my Uncle David took me to the Earle Theatre to hear Duke Ellington.

I happen to have a giant ego, an admission that will not shock my close friends or critics. I am not uncomfortable in saying that because the ego of a man often gets great things done.