Miroslav Vitous Quotes

Miles Davis was a part of my life from 1947 on. I was born in 1941 and I first heard him in 1947 on a 78 rpm. And then I followed his career, starting with his first solo album in 1951. He was an icon and inspiration and a mentor to me.

I'd actually been making my living as an organist with bands since I was probably 15 or 16 years old, and then as a senior in high school I put together a jazz quintet called The Bobby Mack Jazz Quintet.

Shonda Rhimes, especially, saw something in me that no one had and then wrote to my strengths for 'Grey's Anatomy.' That's the job I think really opened up a whole new world for me.

I was doing without for so long, not knowing the things that are normal for musicians. I was getting bookings regardless, people phoning or emailing me direct, and journalists were writing about me anyway.

I was 19 when I wrote 'Dreams,' and that would have been when it started to happen. The band got signed, and I was probably beginning to see different things besides my small town of Ballybricken.

I went with Lionel Hampton for three years. Out of that came a trip to Europe.

I sounded like myself. People be saying I sound like Miles or Clifford Brown.

I got my first trumpet when I was six years old, from Al Hirt. My father was playing in Al Hirt's band at that time.

'10' was amazing! I had no career before '10' and then all of a sudden I was able to do pretty much whatever I was able to do in the business.

The only person I have regrets about is Miles Davis. He and I had become good friends after we did a photo shoot, and coincidentally, we kept running into each other at parties and stuff. I regret not having written a hit for Miles Davis.

I grew up with Al Jarreau. We had a band together and worked these places for three years when neither one of us knew we could make a living doing music.

It's called 'Miles Davis, Prince of Darkness,' and it's about Miles Davis, the genius, and why he was the way he was, and how he changed music so many times. He changed music six times. So, I'm excited about that movie.

I'm on my feet and I'm doing what I love to do, and I'm in a profession, as a musician, where we can go on for as long as we can go on.

I'm a kid for a living: I get to play the piano for a living.

I have never done any other job. I have sung in bands since I was 15. I left school completely unqualified. I have no other training.

Miles Davis is a major influence of mine in terms of the way that I am as a bandleader.

Most people think in order to validate yourself as an artist, you have to write your own songs. I commend the guys that do. I've done it. But I also think that you can pick great songs outside that you didn't write that can help your career.

I didn't plan on rock-n-roll. I wanted to learn jazz; I got to know some people doing rock-n-roll with jazz, and I thought I could make some money playing music.

I went to Juilliard in New York and used to do cabarets just for fun. Occasionally, I would get together with a jazz musician and play at a restaurant for cash. And I've done some background vocals for recording artists.

I used to be friends with Miles Davis. He didn't like many folks. I lived across the street from him.

Clifford Brown was in the jazz circles considered to be probably the greatest trumpet player who ever lived.

By 1969, when I celebrated 45 years in the music business, I also had 45 people in our musical family.

I was really close to being this guy who used to be in this band who is still playing and trying to get some recordings together, but I got really lucky.

I never believed - or knew for sure - if I would be able to make a professional life in music. But it turned out that way.

When I was younger, I worked for several years composing music for commercials, but I was very happy to give that up. I didn't really like it, it was a way of financing my bands.