Essentially, the popular musician in America must learn that his basic job is to entertain people, to make them forget their sorrows for a moment or two; in the same sense that any popular art form must aim at the… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
I'm not comfortable with categories, and I distrust most definitions. The word 'definition' is based on the word 'finite,' which would seem to indicate… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
It ["Begin the Beguine"] became such a hit that it superseded anything that any band had ever had. It was the first time that… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
An audience is in many respects no more than a mob under loose control. — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
Dance music-as I keep saying, you can dance to a windshield wiper... a windshield wiper that's fairly steady gives you a beat and all… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
I'm not conditioned to be an entertainer. An entertainer pleases others while an artist only has to please himself. The problem with that is artists are misunderstood by all. I'm not interested in the clarinet but in music. we speak our emotions into music. An artist should write for himself and not for an audience. If the audience likes it,… — Artie Shaw Copy Share
There's such a cynicism about the phrase 'I laughed all the way to the bank.' It's as though money is what you're doing, rather… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
People ask what those women saw in me. Let's face it, I wasn't a bad-looking stud. But that's not it. It's the music; it's… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
When I first met Benny Goodman he wouldn't talk about anything but clarinets, mouthpieces, reeds, etc. When I tried to change the subject, he… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
![“It ["Begin the Beguine"] became such a hit that it superseded anything that any band had ever had. It was the first time that a so-called swing band played something melodic and still gave it a beat.” quote by Artie Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f8/artie-shaw-18387_band_it-begin-the-beguine-became-such-a-hit-t_120311.jpg)
