There's a few tunes of mine that don't have jokes, but most of them have a joke and they have a humorous point of view somewhere.

I went through the whole number, you know. The swing era, the boogie woogie era, the bebop era. Thelonious Monk is still one of my favorites. So a lot of these people had their effect on me.

All the classic jazz players all sang and a lot of 'em sang blues.

Everybody cryin' mercy / When they don't know the meaning of the word.

The things that really matter don't mix with idle chatter.

Ever since the world ended, I don't go out as much

I have no idea what I'm doin'. I've never seen me.

I been getting good crowds. It only took 50 years.

I'm playin' music for a certain type of person. Fortunately, there are more and more of us. At least there are more comin' to see me than there were 30 years ago or so.

As far as I'm concerned, the essentials of jazz are: melodic improvisation, melodic invention, swing, and instrumental personality.

I never sit down and write. I just sorta let things form in my brain.

To succeed in life you need five things – a burning desire, a willingness to do whatever it takes, wisdom, incredible effort, and a commitment to never ending improvement.

The sales process should be as natural and fluid as a well choreographed dance.

I never liked the middle ground-the most boring place in the world.

It is important to me to instill in [kids] a sense of compassion and respect for others.

I've learned in my career, it is much better to be recognized for all the great things you do on the field.

The beatitudes say, "Blessed are the poor". They don't say, "Blessed are those who care for the poor."

I know I'm not great at structure and story.

If given a choice, I would have certainly selected to be what I am: one of the oppressed instead of one of the oppressors.

In a way, being an opera singer is like being a very romantic sixteen-year-old who falls in love with great passion and conviction every month.

Now, I think the people who are still doing stand-up are doing it because they love stand-up.