Duke Ellington was famous for hs very original harmonic patterns.

A-four and a-three and a-two and a-one...

My accent remained terrible. It was very hard for me to initiate any conversation with someone I didn't know.

The first time I try anything is invariably not very successful. I tend to grow slowly, but solidly.

Over and over I marvel at the blessings of my life: Each year has grown better than the last.

In spite of the Depression, or maybe because of it, folks were hungry for a good time, and an evening of dancing seemed a good way to have it.