The problem of expressing the contributions that Benny Carter has made to popular music is so tremendous it completely fazes me, so extraordinary a musician is he.
DUKE ELLINGTONI fluffed off the guy who kept requesting tunes all night, then found out he was the King’s son.
More Duke Ellington Quotes
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Jazz is a good barometer of freedom.
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Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesn’t want me to be too famous too young.
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Playing ‘bop’ is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.
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Everyone prays in their own language, and there is no language that God does not understand.
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Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited.
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You’ve got to find a way of saying it without saying it.
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Music, of course, is what I hear and something that I more or less live by. It’s not an occupation or profession, it’s a compulsion.
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There are 2 rules in life: Number 1- Never quit. Number2- Never forget rule number 1.
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The artist must say it without saying it.
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Every man prays in his own language.
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A goal is a dream with a finish line.
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What does music mean to you? What would you do without music?
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Love is indescribable and unconditional. I could tell you a thousand things that it is not, but not one that it is. Either you have it or you haven’t; there’s no proof of it.
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Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one.
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Sing sweet, but put a little dirt in it.
DUKE ELLINGTON