Quotes

. . . there was a point with the Tijuana Brass where we were playing for such huge crowds that I kind of lost contact. At one point, the only connection I had with the audience was with people out there lighting cigarettes.

I never thought of myself as a trumpet player in the traditional sense: I never played in a big band . . . I didn't struggle the normal way.

I believe the best chance we have of creating responsible and productive kids is through the arts, and it has to be developed just like literacy.

[2013, on the music industry] Aw man, it's in serious trouble. The Internet has not been a big help. And looking back on it, I don't think we responded properly to the music-sharing program that was rampant and devastated the business. The record companies as they used to be? I think that's gone.

[on the suggestion that the Tijuana Brass style limited the scope of his career] I never felt limited. This might sound weird, man, but I never tried to make a hit record. I tried to make interesting records. I worked with Sam Cooke and Lou Adler and wrote a song, "A Wonderful World". Sam was a mentor and he said, "People are just listening to a cool piece of wax. And it either makes it or it doesn't. And it's not important what kind of echo chamber you're using. Or how much time you've spent in the studio practicing".