I Think I Do Better When I

I Owe Marilyn Monroe A Real Debt … She Personally Called The Owner Of The Mocambo, And Told Him She Wanted Me Booked Immediately, And If He Would Do It, She Would Take A Front Table Every Night. She Told Him – And It Was True, Due To Marilyn’s Superstar Status – That The Press Would Go Wild. The Owner Said Yes, And Marilyn Was There, Front Table, Every Night. The Press Went Overboard. After That, I Never Had To Play A Small Jazz Club Again. She Was An Unusual Woman – A Little Ahead Of Her Times. And She Didn’t Know It.

A Lot Of Singers Think All They Have To Do Is Exercise Their Tonsils To Get Ahead. They Refuse To Look For New Ideas And New Outlets, So They Fall By The Wayside... I'm Going To Try To Find Out The New Ideas Before The Others Do.

Once, When We Were Playing At The Apollo Theater, Holiday Was Working A Block Away At The Harlem Opera House. Some Of Us Went Over Between Shows To Catch Her, And Afterwards We Went Backstage. I Did Something Then, And I Still Don't Know If It Was The Right Thing To Do—i Asked Her For Her Autograph.

Just Don't Give Up Trying To Do What You Really Want To Do. Where There Is Love And Inspiration, I Don't Think You Can Go Wrong.

When I'm On Stage I Feel At Home