Sammy Davis Jr. Quotes

I really worked to try and be creative enough on the guitar parts so those who aren't real educated would know that there was some difficulty in doing it.

The thing about the national anthem is that it's actually a pretty difficult song to sing for anybody.

Sometimes the simplest forms of music are the hardest to play. Especially for musicians that are accomplished.

The guitar is the easiest instrument to play and the hardest to play well.

I can hold a note, but that's about it.

I have been quite open to the idea of working with any actor who wishes to sing for their films but only if their voice suits the song in hand.

I believe no other singer has to remember so many different lyrics like I do.

I do like performing 'I'll Take Your Man,' because that was a hard song.

If you sing the way I do, I get about one-fifth of the oxygen that the other guys in the band get. It doesn't make anything easier.

Piano playing is more difficult than statesmanship. It is harder to awake emotions in ivory keys than it is in human beings.

Through the years I've accumulated this big bag of songs. When I go out I do close to two hours, and it's all just attitude - and up-tempo. I've accumulated so many of those types of songs now that the show just gets off with a bang, and I'll only do two or three ballads the whole show.

I'm definitely a singer, but I play. I write music too, but it's all coming from the same source. I have never learned an instrument any other way than by myself.

One of the things that benefited me that anyone can learn is classical technique. That shows the orchestra that exists within the instrument.

The other songs [of Billie Holiday] - "Body and Soul" is like the standard - I also wanted some songs that I knew I would sound good on, as a producer. It's been the same nine songs since I debuted it back in 2012.

The singer should sing well even if it is merely to himself, rather than dance badly for the whole world.

I have no talent when it comes to pianos or guitars or any of that, even karaoke. For karaoke, I have to be wasted to get up there and sing.

Don't blame me for the fact that competent programming, as I view it as an intellectual possibility, will be too difficult for the average programmer, you must not fall into the trap of rejecting a surgical technique because it is beyond the capabilities of the barber in his shop around the corner.

But it's all about confidence and allowing yourself to put your personality into it. I really am the worst singer on the planet; I make people cry and vomit when I sing.

[Louis Armstrong] could play a trumpet like nobody else, then put it down and sing a song like no one else could.

My singing ability is zilch.

At some point I decided I didn't want to learn any more guitar technique. I was at that level where the next mountain there was to climb was Van Halen and I didn't really like Van Halen.

I'm always proud and pleased when people do my songs. It gives me pleasure that they even attempt them, because a lot of my songs aren't that doable.

I was always a natural performer. It was easy for me. I danced and I sang, and all that stuff. I felt like I'd be something in the arts, but it vacillated between being a dancer and a singer, or whatever.

I'm a songwriter. My voice just serves what I'm writing about. So to let all that go, I mean, bring the sensibilities of it actually to the song choices, but to just be the interpreter was incredibly liberating and really fun.

People think that I play effortlessly. I remember doing a record date with Bill Evans and afterwards he said to me, you make it sound so easy but when I get right up next to you you're working hard and making it sound easy!