Then, on my way to California, I decided to stop in New York to do some research. I couldn't leave, because that's where the music was!

- Don Alias

I grew up in New York. We were all diversified, as far as music was concerned. I grew up liking just about everything. So I tried to incorporate that…

- Don Alias

I grew up learning this stuff on the streets of New York. My brother and I used to play in the subway for money.

- Don Alias

We're talking about an extremely prolific poet and songwriter and lyricist. That stuff comes off the top of her head. She [Joni Mitchell] will write …

- Don Alias

She [Joni Mitchell] wanted to have that (jazz) element in her music. Of course, when she heard Jaco's [Jaco Pastorius'] music and met him, that floor…

- Don Alias

Mom did not want me to have anything to do with playing music. Being from a middle-class Black family in that particular era, everybody wanted you to…

- Don Alias

If they [the crowd at The Apollo Theater] don't like you, they will let you know. When you didn't have any talent, they would let you know about it -…

- Don Alias