We keep a database of awesome hand-picked quotes from a variety of authors, musicians, and key people about music, soul, jazz, musicianship, guitars and all things music! Every order you receive from our shop, find a fun new music quote on the bottom of your packing slip! Below are some of our favorites.
The blues tells a story.
- John Lee Hooker
If you don't know the blues... there's no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music.
- Keith Richards
I Looked Up at That Guy on Stage and Thought, 'That Is a Meal Ticket
- The Police’s Stewart Copeland on first meeting Sting
This is just a tree of life. This record is the watering hole.
- Tom Waits, on The Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street"
I always felt like I could beat plowing mules and chopping cotton
- Muddy Waters
You've got to dig it to dig it, you dig?
- Jazz Piano Legend Thelonious Monk
Actually the greatest priests on 52nd Street, and on the streets of New York City were the musicians. They were doing the greatest healing work.
- Garth Hudson to Martin Scorsese in The Last Waltz
Well, the night I was born, Lord, I swear the moon turned a fire red
- Jimi Hendrix, Voodoo Child (1968)
I've had more communication in the last 26 years about that one solo than the 11 albums I've done on my own, the six that I've done with another group that I'm co-leader of, hundreds of pieces I've done with other people and the 3,000 pieces of music I've written to date..."
- Keyboardist Mike Garison on his avant garde keyboard solo in David Bowie's Aladdin Sane
Because that live version of Tipitina, oh sweet Lord. If the record had nothing else on it, it would still be a treasure beyond price.
- Actor Hugh Laurie (House, Fry & Laurie) on Professor Longhair
[Paul Butterfield] just went for it and took it all in, and he embodied the essence of what the blues was all about.
- Maria Muldaur
[Chess Records] released ten thousand records [of Mojo Workin'] on Friday, by Saturday 1:00 you couldn't buy one. They were selling records then for .79 cents... I raised the price.
- Muddy Waters
Let me shine some love light down on the blues man.
- Hank Williams, Jr.
[My voice] sounded like me trying to do Leadbelly songs. But I knew it was good.
- Van Morrison
You know what, man, if you can play the blues, baby, you can do anything. Don't worry about playing me.
- Ray Charles' encouragement to Jamie Foxx on how to portray the pianist
I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things that he knows of and senses in the universe…
- John Coltrane
Otis Redding was a natural prince. When you were with him, he communicated love and a tremendous faith in human possibility, a promise that great and happy events were coming.
- Jerry Wexler, Atlantic Records, at Otis Redding’s funeral, December, 1967
The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways. Like a vision, she dances across the porch as the radio plays.
- Bruce Springsteen, "Thunder Road", 1986
Let the Midnight Special shine her light on me.
- Lead Belly
The story of life is quicker than the blink of an eye. The story of love is hello, goodbye.
- Jimi Hendrix