"I have to admit, I learned a lot from her and the way she saw music. She would say something like, "Oh, don't play that chord that sounds like running water." Or, "That is too blue. Give me more green." My first thought as a music snob was, "Oh come on! I have to figure out what green or water means? Take some time and learn what a chord is!" That was my big mistake! It took me a few years to realize that if I could realize what she was saying by learning to speak her language, she was always right! She was always right and in a way taught me so much. Her musical instincts are absolutely impeccable. People like to say, "Oh yeah, she's got the great legs. She's got a great voice. She's a great singer and dancer. She is a great personality." They talk about the hair and everything else. Those are all true but the thing I have the most respect for is as a band leader and a record producer. Very rarely did she take a credit as a record producer but, I swear, she knew everything everybody was playing and she knew how to make it better! [...] I was so lucky to be around one of the major musical forces of the late 20th century! She truly is amazing!"
January 1, 1970