I didn't know what the hell Charlie Parker was playing... I just liked the way he played.

Mozart was born Mozart. Charlie Parker was born Charlie Parker.

It was my band. I organized the band and Dizzy was in the band. Dizzy was the first musical director with the band. Charlie Parker was in the band. But, no, no, that was my band.

Charlie Parker was a genius, as was Lester Young.

There's Charlie Parker and there's Miles, there's Trane. I'm none of those guys, so why am I beating myself up trying to find the lost chord all the time?

Charlie Hampton was the spitting image of Charlie Parker. He could have been his twin brother. He played the saxophone like an angel, and some guys even called him 'Bird.