--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Count Basie was college, but Duke…" description: "\"Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate school.\" — Clark Terry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/clark-terry-45807_college_count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellingt_1391698.jpg" --- # Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate… ![“Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate school.” quote by Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/clark-terry-45807_college_count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellingt_1391698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/clark-terry-45807_college_count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellingt_1391698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/clark-terry-45807_college_count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellingt_1391698.jpg) > “Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate school.” [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contrast highlights differing educational paths of two jazz legends, implying one formal education may not guarantee success. **In simple terms:** Different education levels among jazz greats. Key Takeaway Success can come from varied learning routes. Themes education music career talent success Mood reflective analytical Type observational comparative When to use this quote - Music education - career planning - talent development Key Concepts Jazz history learning styles career development Questions to Reflect On - How does formal education affect artistic growth? - Can talent outweigh schooling? A Different Perspective Formal schooling isn’t the only path to mastery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basie College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basie-college-4852397/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/count-basie-757104/) [Duke Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duke-ellington/) [Dukes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dukes/) [Ellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ellington-339289/) [Ellington Graduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ellington-graduate-4852396/) [Graduate school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate-school/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [My father was a huge jazz fan, so I remember him playing Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn, and Count Basie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/my-father-was-a-huge-jazz-fan-so-i-remember-him-playing-duke/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [As for my band, well, my mentors were Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Jimmie Lunceford, and no one had a band more smartly dressed than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/as-for-my-band-well-my-mentors-were-duke-ellington-benny-goodman/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [We work so hard on our craft, and once we get out of Duke Ellington, there are not going to be people looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-hawkins/we-work-so-hard-on-our-craft-and-once-we-get-out-of-duke-ellington/) [Corey Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-hawkins/) > [I think it was Duke Ellington who once said that we're always most pleased with our current record. I mean, you have to assume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-shearing/i-think-it-was-duke-ellington-who-once-said-that-we-re-always-most/) [George Shearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-shearing/) > [It's a spirit that was given me and the relationships and meeting all these great people, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong; through Max I met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbey-lincoln/it-s-a-spirit-that-was-given-me-and-the-relationships-and-meeting-all/) [Abbey Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbey-lincoln/) > [I wouldn't know absolutely everything I've been influenced by, but the first jazz I heard was Duke Ellington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-wouldn-t-know-absolutely-everything-i-ve-been-influenced-by-but-the/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [Bebop didn't have the humanity of Duke Ellington. It didn't have that recognizable thing. Bird and Diz were great, fantastic, challenging -- but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/bebop-didn-t-have-the-humanity-of-duke-ellington-it-didn-t-have-that/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [ I learned from Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, Adelaide Hall, the Nicholas Brothers, the whole thing, the whole schmear. \[The Cotton Club\] was a great… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/i-learned-from-ethel-waters-duke-ellington-adelaide-hall-the-nicholas/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [At least one day out of the year all musicans should just put their instruments down, and give thanks too Duke Ellington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/at-least-one-day-out-of-the-year-all-musicans-should-just-put-their/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [The musicians, Duke Ellington, his thing was not about separating himself from the rest of America. Louis Armstrong - go to the forefathers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/the-musicians-duke-ellington-his-thing-was-not-about-separating/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Duke Ellington always had a style: original, clean with interesting color combinations. He had an artist's eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/duke-ellington-always-had-a-style-original-clean-with-interesting/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Duke Ellington had a song, "What Am I Here For?" - this is what being pro-life is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/duke-ellington-had-a-song-what-am-i-here-for-this-is-what-being-pro/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [ \[Prince\] could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/prince-could-very-well-be-the-duke-ellington-of-rock-n-roll/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I like to think Duke Ellington would probably embrace a fragrance as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-ferry/i-like-to-think-duke-ellington-would-probably-embrace-a-fragrance-as/) [Bryan Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-ferry/) ## More by Clark Terry > [ \[Sweets Edison\] was one of the greatest stylists in Jazz of all time. And on top of that, when you listen to him, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/sweets-edison-was-one-of-the-greatest-stylists-in-jazz-of-all-time/) [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) > [Imitate, assimilate & innovate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/imitate-assimilate-innovate/) [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) > [Well, I'm too old to pimp, and too young to die, so I'm just gonna keep playin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/well-i-m-too-old-to-pimp-and-too-young-to-die-so-i-m-just-gonna-keep/) [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) > [Imitate, assimilate, and innovate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/imitate-assimilate-and-innovate/) [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) > [Your sound is you & what you really feel inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/your-sound-is-you-what-you-really-feel-inside/) [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) > [I was very thrilled to witness the workby my ol' buddy Jim Widner whose expertise in the field of jazz education proved invaluable in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/i-was-very-thrilled-to-witness-the-workby-my-ol-buddy-jim-widner/) [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) > [Your mind is a positive asset. Use it for positive thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/your-mind-is-a-positive-asset-use-it-for-positive-thoughts/) [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) > [I believe that regardless of how many people you've listened to or emulated over the years, your sound is you and what you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/i-believe-that-regardless-of-how-many-people-you-ve-listened-to-or/) [Clark Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) [Explore all 9 Clark Terry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate school.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clark Terry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellington-was-graduate-school/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "College" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellington-was-graduate-school/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/clark-terry-45807_college_count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellingt_1391698.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/clark-terry-45807_college_count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellingt_1391698.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/clark-terry-45807_college_count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellingt_1391698.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Count Basie was college, but Duke Ellington was graduate school.” — Clark Terry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Clark Terry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-terry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Count Basie was college, but Duke...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellington-was-graduate-school/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-terry/count-basie-was-college-but-duke-ellington-was-graduate-school/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```