Thelonious Monk Quotes

Unless a man enters upon the vocation intended for him by nature, and best suited to his peculiar genius, he cannot succeed. I am glad to believe that the majority of persons do find their right vocation.

I went to college on a classical piano scholarship. My grandmother made me practice one full hour a day. Every day. Man. I thought all she wanted was for me not to have any fun. Next thing you know, you have a career in music. Now, not everybody's going to go on and be Mozart or Michael Jackson. But music makes you smarter.

I'm in a really lucky position where people will be interested in whatever I do, but what I do is sing.

Starting out to make money is the greatest mistake in life. Do what you feel you have a flair for doing, and if you are good enough at it, the money will come.

Never say that your life is to be a singer. You want to sing because it's a part of your life. But if you don't succeed as a singer, it doesn't mean you don't have a life and it's over.

Ella can work nightclubs that Duke might not be able to work, because of having the big band. Where they go now is strictly a matter of their own names and talents.

You wouldn't expect a cattle dealer to sit down at a grand piano and play it beautifully. That's my father.

I wish I could sing or play an instrument.

I've been blessed with the ability to sing, and that has taken me so many places I never would have gone otherwise.

And, you know, I never wanted to be a singer.

I became a musician because that's really what I wanted to do when I was fifteen, but I had other abilities.

The saddest thing in life is wasted talent and the choices you make will shape your life forever.

One of the great regrets of my life is that I don't play piano.

Music has always been a large part of my life, and I'm very fortunate to be able to start a career doing something I love.

Music has given me a fantastic lifestyle.

I feel I am fortunate that I could become a composer.

If you suck, you're gonna suck real bad, and if you play well, it's going to sound really good.

I studied percussion as a music student, and I didn't have the best of timing, so I could never make it as a professional, unfortunately.

I've been blessed to be able to sing and perform.

If I read a script in the future that I feel like I could have a little fun with or that reflects me well, it may be one of those things that I try out. But, of course, music's my number one priority.

I used to play cello. My mother kept me out of school a whole year to study music and counterpoint. She thought I had ability, but I was absolutely without talent.

I've experienced tons of failure. I've been making music for 30 years, and I'd say failure and success have happened in equal measure.

I think Hanson is gonna be around for a long time. I think that they're three great, talented young men.

I love music, and I can play a little. But anyone can see the difference between someone who's talented and someone that's not.

Your heart becomes gangrenous in your body when you go against your talent.