--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a little kid wanting to play…" description: "\"When I was a little kid wanting to play music, it was because of people like Pete Johnson, Huey Smith, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, James Booke..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dr-john-13961_afros_when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play_1844883.jpg" --- # When I was a little kid wanting to play music, it was… ![“When I was a little kid wanting to play music, it was because of people like Pete Johnson, Huey Smith, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, James Booker, Art Neville ... there was so many piano players I loved in New Orleans. Then there was guys from out of town that would come cut there a lot…” quote by Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dr-john-13961_afros_when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play_1844883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dr-john-13961_afros_when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play_1844883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dr-john-13961_afros_when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play_1844883.jpg) > “When I was a little kid wanting to play music, it was because of people like Pete Johnson, Huey Smith, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, James Booker, Art Neville ... there was so many piano players I loved in New Orleans. Then there was guys from out of town that would come cut there a lot. There was so many great bebop piano players, so many great jazz piano players, so many great Latin piano players, so many great blues piano players. Some of those Afro-Cuban bands had some killer piano players. There was so many different things going on musically, and it was all of interest to me.” [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to diverse musical influences shapes artistic development and lifelong passion. **In simple terms:** Diverse music inspires growth. Key Takeaway Explore varied musical styles. Themes inspiration musical heritage creativity Mood reflective enthusiastic Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - learning an instrument - composing - teaching - curating playlists Key Concepts jazz blues Latin Afro‑Cuban Questions to Reflect On - Which genre resonates most with you? - How can you blend influences uniquely? A Different Perspective Over‑specialization may limit breadth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afros/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Bebop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bebop/) [Bebop Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bebop-piano-2379689/) [Blues Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues-piano-2379691/) [Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuban/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-things/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Jazz Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz-piano-2379690/) [Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/johnson/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Killer Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer-piano-2379688/) [Killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killers/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Little kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-kid/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [New orleans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-orleans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Piano Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-player/) [Piano Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-players-384414/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Professors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professors/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) ## Related quotes > [You're a master on blues piano. The real deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/you-re-a-master-on-blues-piano-the-real-deal/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I'm a pianist - I studied jazz piano in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-michael-smith/i-m-a-pianist-i-studied-jazz-piano-in-college/) [Cory Michael Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-michael-smith/) > [I love New Orleans. I love jazz. I grew up practicing jazz piano, and that's just been such a cool genre to me. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-love-new-orleans-i-love-jazz-i-grew-up-practicing-jazz-piano-and/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [There was a lot of freedom, so bands in those days did not have to play for the public. They played for club owners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/there-was-a-lot-of-freedom-so-bands-in-those-days-did-not-have-to/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [After a while, though, you realize that a whole slew of young singer-songwriter piano players are getting compared to you. That's when you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/after-a-while-though-you-realize-that-a-whole-slew-of-young-singer/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I was blessed to work with The Jazz Messengers when the two piano players were Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-mangione/i-was-blessed-to-work-with-the-jazz-messengers-when-the-two-piano/) [Chuck Mangione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-mangione/) > [I'm very fond of piano players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parkinson/i-m-very-fond-of-piano-players/) [Michael Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parkinson/) > [I grew up in a family of piano players. Both my sisters were serious players, and they both, as they became more accomplished, aspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulson/i-grew-up-in-a-family-of-piano-players-both-my-sisters-were-serious/) [John Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulson/) > [I would just hear piano players and I would hear music, and just think - I don't just want to sit here and passively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-laurie/i-would-just-hear-piano-players-and-i-would-hear-music-and-just-think/) [Hugh Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-laurie/) > [But if you listen to great piano players, both classical and jazz, there's a huge range of dynamics and colors and emotional expression that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-burton/but-if-you-listen-to-great-piano-players-both-classical-and-jazz/) [Gary Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-burton/) > [I've found that since I've been playing the acoustic, listening to a horn player has left me thinking, well, what can I do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-ve-found-that-since-i-ve-been-playing-the-acoustic-listening-to-a/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [The mark of genius is consistency. Do we hear of naive genius piano players? If anyone knows of one, try listening to it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/the-mark-of-genius-is-consistency-do-we-hear-of-naive-genius-piano/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) > [As far as piano players are concerned, Oscar Peterson is my very favorite. I also like McCoy Tyner. I think that the big jazz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/as-far-as-piano-players-are-concerned-oscar-peterson-is-my-very/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I get nervous when they start shooting piano players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-nilsson/i-get-nervous-when-they-start-shooting-piano-players/) [Harry Nilsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-nilsson/) > [But if you listen to great piano players, both classical and jazz, theres a huge range of dynamics and colors and emotional expression thats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-burton/but-if-you-listen-to-great-piano-players-both-classical-and-jazz-2/) [Gary Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-burton/) ## More by Dr. John > [Where Charlie Christian left off, Papoose started a new thing; he was an innovator of the guitar. The things he did during his recording…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/where-charlie-christian-left-off-papoose-started-a-new-thing-he-was/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [Like the tangled veins of cypress roots that meander this way and that in the swamp, everything in New Orleans is interrelated, wrapped around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/like-the-tangled-veins-of-cypress-roots-that-meander-this-way-and/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [I been trying to clean up my act with my children for a long time. And I pretty much got them all talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/i-been-trying-to-clean-up-my-act-with-my-children-for-a-long-time-and/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [The whole Lower Ninth Ward hasn't really recovered, but I feel a good spirit in my heart that something is going on - music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/the-whole-lower-ninth-ward-hasn-t-really-recovered-but-i-feel-a-good/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [New Orleans cats don't play a lot of solos unless they got something to say. It's not an ego thing like it is with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/new-orleans-cats-don-t-play-a-lot-of-solos-unless-they-got-something/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [I think that any of the places that's cut off from money, things come up, what the people have to rely on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/i-think-that-any-of-the-places-that-s-cut-off-from-money-things-come/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [The specter of color is apparent even when it goes unmentioned, and it is all too often the unseen force that influences public policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/the-specter-of-color-is-apparent-even-when-it-goes-unmentioned-and-it/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [Everybody in my neighborhood in the '40s, they played pianos. That's how people partied. They didn't try the TV, the radio was OK, records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/everybody-in-my-neighborhood-in-the-40s-they-played-pianos-that-s-how/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [Doc has been my name all my life, and John is my middle name. I'm proud of all my names - Malcolm John Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/doc-has-been-my-name-all-my-life-and-john-is-my-middle-name-i-m-proud/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [It was the first time I was looking, really, right after the storm, that I saw maybe the amount of devastation that had happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/it-was-the-first-time-i-was-looking-really-right-after-the-storm-that/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [There was a lot of freedom, so bands in those days did not have to play for the public. They played for club owners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/there-was-a-lot-of-freedom-so-bands-in-those-days-did-not-have-to/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [I hung at the studio. Myself and James Booker and several other musicians, as kids, we just literally hung at the studio, hoping somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/i-hung-at-the-studio-myself-and-james-booker-and-several-other/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [I'd rather have the whole world against me than my own soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/i-d-rather-have-the-whole-world-against-me-than-my-own-soul/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [I had somebody call and make a joke about it: 'Oh, Buddy Guy won the Grammy - You should have won.' I said, 'No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/i-had-somebody-call-and-make-a-joke-about-it-oh-buddy-guy-won-the/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [In 1972, I recorded Gumbo, an album that was both a tribute to and my interpretation of the music I had grown up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/in-1972-i-recorded-gumbo-an-album-that-was-both-a-tribute-to-and-my/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) [Explore all 48 Dr. John quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) ## More Afros quotes > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I always thought he gave me that name because I have a kind of outgoing or sunny disposition. And in those days I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/i-always-thought-he-gave-me-that-name-because-i-have-a-kind-of/) [Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/) > [Malcolm X broke with the N.O.I. in March 1964, and in that last 11 chaotic months, he spent most of the time outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/malcolm-x-broke-with-the-n-o-i-in-march-1964-and-in-that-last-11/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [The final test of Afro-American studies will be the extent to which they rid the minds of whites and blacks alike of false learning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-saunders-redding/the-final-test-of-afro-american-studies-will-be-the-extent-to-which/) [Jay Saunders Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-saunders-redding/) > [When I say Afro-American aesthetic, I'm not just talking about the United States, I'm talking about the Americas. People in the Latin countries read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/when-i-say-afro-american-aesthetic-i-m-not-just-talking-about-the/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-miscegenation-laws-of-the-south-only-operate-against-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) [Fannie Barrier Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-barrier-williams/) > [I had the afro when I was in high school. I had the flattop during a short period in the early '90s. And I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-meadows/i-had-the-afro-when-i-was-in-high-school-i-had-the-flattop-during-a/) [Tim Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-meadows/) > [Even his hair was bigger—a massive globe of blue-black frizz so thick that his lobster-claw horns appeared to be drowning as they tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/even-his-hair-was-bigger-a-massive-globe-of-blue-black-frizz-so-thick/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Music really influenced me when I was growing up. I did go through a Jimi Hendrix phase. My hair was naturally quite afro, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/music-really-influenced-me-when-i-was-growing-up-i-did-go-through-a/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [The Afro-American is not a bestial race. If this work can contribute in any way towards proving this, and at the same time arouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race-if-this-work-can-contribute/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Afro-Caribbean influences are in me as a creative being the same way Spanish influences were in Picasso's work. I think the notion of labels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-fagan/afro-caribbean-influences-are-in-me-as-a-creative-being-the-same-way/) [Garth Fagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-fagan/) > [The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being. Our common goal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-common-goal-of-22-million-afro-americans-is-respect-as-human/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [In Italy, I had an Afro, and a lot of the kids came up and felt my hair. It really was funny. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/in-italy-i-had-an-afro-and-a-lot-of-the-kids-came-up-and-felt-my-hair/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [The separating of a section of America for Afro- Americans is similar to expecting a heaven in the sky somewhere after you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-separating-of-a-section-of-america-for-afro-americans-is-similar/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Browse all 77 Afros quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afros/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was a little kid wanting to play music, it was because of people like Pete Johnson, Huey Smith, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, James Booker, Art Neville ... there was so many piano players I loved in New Orleans. Then there was guys from out of town that would come cut there a lot. There was so many great bebop piano players, so many great jazz piano players, so many great Latin piano players, so many great blues piano players. Some of those Afro-Cuban bands had some killer piano players. There was so many different things going on musically, and it was all of interest to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dr. John" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play-music-it-was-because-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afros" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play-music-it-was-because-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dr-john-13961_afros_when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play_1844883.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dr-john-13961_afros_when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play_1844883.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dr-john-13961_afros_when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play_1844883.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was a little kid wanting to play music, it was because of people like Pete Johnson, Huey Smith, Allen…” — Dr. John", "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": "Dr. John", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was a little kid...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play-music-it-was-because-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/when-i-was-a-little-kid-wanting-to-play-music-it-was-because-of/#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 } } ] } ```