"I never tried to be anything but myself. I just played my horn the way I felt it."

"A lot of people think that 'What a Wonderful World' is a sad song. I don't think so. I think it's a happy song."

"I just want to keep on playing until I can't play no more."

"If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."

"Satchmo, that's what they call me. Short for Satchelmouth. Because of my big mouth."