The distance between me and Benny [Goodman], was that I was trying to play a musical thing, and Benny was trying to swing. Benny had great fingers; I'd never deny that. But listen to our two versions of 'Star Dust.'… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
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It ["Begin the Beguine"] became such a hit that it superseded anything that any band had ever had.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… — Artie Shaw Copy Share Image
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
![“The distance between me and Benny [Goodman], was that I was trying to play a musical thing, and Benny was trying to swing. Benny had great fingers; I'd never deny that. But listen to our two versions of 'Star Dust.' I was playing; he was swinging.” quote by Artie Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/797/artie-shaw-18387_deny_the-distance-between-me-and-benny-goodma_1425310.jpg)
![“It ["Begin the Beguine"] became such a hit that it superseded anything that any band had ever had.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)
