George Duke

“I'm trying to make music that's timeless. I don't want to make music that's just for the moment.”

“My thing is to try to be a musical storyteller. To create a mood, a feeling, a picture.”

“Music is a science, it is mathematical, it is a foreign language, it is history, it is physical education... it is art. It is the one thing that can connect with a human being on every single level.”

“I’ve always been kind of a musical chameleon.”

“The music is the magic. If it’s not in the music, it’s not going to happen.”

“You learn from the masters, and then you try to find your own voice.”

“I wanted to be a well-rounded musician. I wanted to be able to play in any situation.”

“Frank Zappa taught me that you could be serious about your music without taking yourself too seriously.”

“I think the most important thing is to have fun with the music. If you're not having fun, it's going to show.”

“I don't think in terms of genres. I think in terms of good music and bad music.”

“Collaboration is key. You bring your best, I bring my best, and we create something new together.”

“Jazz is not a 'what,' it is a 'how.'”

“Funk is the unending cycle of life. It's the ultimate concept—wherever you go, there you are.”

“The synthesizer is a tool, not a crutch. It's supposed to enhance what you do, not replace it.”