B. B. King

A lot of people believe what other people say.

Jazz is the big brother of the blues. If a guy’s playing blues like we play, he’s in high school. When he starts playing jazz it’s like going on to college, to a school of higher learning.

The problem is that a lot of the blues stations are late on Saturday night, and like a lot of people, I ain’t no vampire!

When I do eventually drop, I pray to God that it’ll happen in one of three ways. Firstly, on stage or leaving the stage, then secondly in my sleep. And the third way? You’ll have to figure that out for yourself!

[moving to Las Vegas] It was sort of like a man getting married – you don’t have to go out looking for girls, you’ve got your girl with you. I could go to casinos any time I had money and wanted to, so I actually went less.

My dad died, I think, at 87. So I’ll be lucky if I make 87. But in a lot of cases, the younger people live longer than their parents. And they know more. My dad used to tell me he ate the hog from his rooter to his tooter. So do I when I’m not trying to lose weight.

The sign of a mature musician is knowing what not to play.

By giving the public a rich and full melody, distinctly arranged and well played, all the time creating new tone colors and patterns, I feel we have a better chance of being successful. I want a kick to my band, but I don’t want the rhythm to hog the spotlight.

I never had much interest in the piano until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right.

Working with Benny was important for me and for black musicians in general.

Ah music… a magic beyond all we do here!

When it comes to music, don’t lie to yourself; just tell yourself the truth.

Jazz musicians are the only workers who will put in a full shift for pay and then go somewhere else and continue to work for free.

There’s a way of playing safe, there’s a way of using tricks and there’s the way I like to play which is dangerously where you’re going to take a chance on making mistakes in order to create something you haven’t created before.

You’re just a little too hip for the room. It’s not good to be too hip because two hips make an ass.

The reason I write music is that I feel it’s a vehicle or channel which leads to your true self, your essence.

The qualities in music I consider most important are beauty, simplicity, originality, discrimination and sincerity.

Despite the fact I’m a professional performer, it’s true that I have always preferred playing without an audience.

One of the advantages of growing older is you learn what to leave out.

You can have the greatest player in terms of mastering an instrument and be yawning your head off.

You know at an early age if you have a talent for music.