16 Quotes by Pete Fountain

I was improvising before I was reading music. I was just trying to play things on the clarinet by ear. I think my ear is one of my greatest assets.

If I had grown up in any place but New Orleans, I don't think my career would have taken off. I wouldn't have heard the music that was around this town. There was so much going on when I was a kid.

You know, it's funny... when you're making money, people don't think you're playing jazz. Now when you're not making money, people think that you're a good jazz musician.

What we used to say was whoever had the bow tie got to lead the band. There was never any jealousy.

He was one of the best trumpet players all around the world. He had everything -- technique, stamina, education.

I think maybe it was just depression about all the stuff that happened. All the things we lost. All the disruption. And then you look around and see all the stuff still messed up. It just sort of grinds you down.

We found a bracelet and a ring. Everything else was gone. All the things I wanted to leave to my kids.

I spent four hours at the hospital, they ran all the blood tests, all the other ones, and didn't find anything. I still don't know what it was. I feel better, but not back to normal.

There will never be another like him. He was loved by trumpet players all over the world.