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 have a profession -- a doctor, a lawyer, and so forth. So she… — Don Alias Copy Share Image
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,… — Don Alias Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
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… — Don Alias Copy Share Image
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… — Don Alias Copy Share Image
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… — Don Alias Copy Share Image
I grew up in New York. We were all diversified, as far as music was concerned. I grew up liking just about everything. So… — Don Alias Copy Share Image
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… — Don Alias Copy Share Image
![“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 floored her -- really grabbed her. She decided that Wayne Shorter was really conducive to her music. She would speak metaphorically about things. "I want…” quote by Don Alias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f3d/don-alias-49528_courses_she-joni-mitchell-wanted-to-have-that-ja_246804.jpg)
![“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 exactly what she lives. If she puts some money in the soda machine, she'll write about putting money in the soda machine. "Dry Cleaner from Des…” quote by Don Alias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/880/don-alias-49528_albums_we-re-talking-about-an-extremely-prolifi_2583415.jpg)
![“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 -- and not kindly. There'd be things like "Get off the stage!" and certain expletives we won't say here. It was a rough audience.” quote by Don Alias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/59d/don-alias-49528_apollo_if-they-the-crowd-at-the-apollo-theater_2862174.jpg)