I started to study the flute in 1951. The flute has been utilized by African-American musicians as far back as the early Twenties. If you take a look…

- Yusef Lateef

Each culture has some knowledge. That's why I studied with Saj Dev, an Indian flute player. That's why I studied Stockhausen's music. The pygmies' mu…

- Yusef Lateef

External instruments are only extensions of the biological instrument.

- Yusef Lateef

The fact is ones own voice is not heard anywhere else. Its a challenge to be yourself. It takes a lot of courage.

- Yusef Lateef

I started in high school with a teacher there. I also took lessons at the Conservatory of Music in Detroit. Detroit was very motivating. There were a…

- Yusef Lateef

Loveless moments are to be avoided.

- Yusef Lateef

When the soul looks out of its body, it should see only beauty in its path. These are the sights we must hold in mind, in order to move to a higher p…

- Yusef Lateef

Whatever I do today is the whole continuum of my experience. Like John Dewey said in his book ‘Art as Experience,’ you can’t separate experience from…

- Yusef Lateef