---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 17 when I made my first record in…"
description: "\"I was 17 when I made my first record in 1949. I never thought about being professional.\" — Fats Domino"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/fats-domino-12965_about_i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in_257583.png"
---

#  I was 17 when I made my first record in 1949. I never…

![“I was 17 when I made my first record in 1949. I never thought about being professional.” quote by Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/fats-domino-12965_about_i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in_257583.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/fats-domino-12965_about_i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in_257583.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/fats-domino-12965_about_i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in_257583.png)

> “I was 17 when I made my first record in 1949. I never thought about being professional.”

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He reflects on early, without career ambition, highlighting spontaneous creativity.

**In simple terms:** He made a record young, without aiming for a career.

Key Takeaway

Embrace early passions without pressure.

Themes

music career spontaneity

Mood

nostalgic reflective

Type

biographical inspirational

When to use this quote

- young musicians
- recording sessions
- career planning

Key Concepts

creativity self‑discovery

Questions to Reflect On

- Did your early start shape your later choices?
- How does lack of ambition affect creativity?

A Different Perspective

Early success may not guarantee later professional growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/)

## Related quotes

> [When you're 17 and a record label says, 'Hey, do pop,' you listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-hogan/when-you-re-17-and-a-record-label-says-hey-do-pop-you-listen/)

[Brooke Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-hogan/)

> [I never really thought about becoming a professional musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/i-never-really-thought-about-becoming-a-professional-musician/)

[John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/)

> [I don't think I ever thought about being a professional. It sounds weird obviously, playing for that many years, I kind of just went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-white/i-don-t-think-i-ever-thought-about-being-a-professional-it-sounds/)

[Ben White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-white/)

> [I thought I was great at football. For a long time I thought I could have been a professional if I'd wanted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/i-thought-i-was-great-at-football-for-a-long-time-i-thought-i-could/)

[David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/)

> [“Hair and drug-use issues notwithstanding, I've never thought of you as any less than professional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/hair-and-drug-use-issues-notwithstanding-i-ve-never-thought-of-you-as/)

[Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/)

> [I've never thought of anything other than becoming a professional footballer. So that was always on my mind, which helped me push and chase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-wan-bissaka/i-ve-never-thought-of-anything-other-than-becoming-a-professional/)

[Aaron Wan-Bissaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-wan-bissaka/)

> [I've never thought of myself as a professional. I very rarely do something I don't enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-professional-i-very-rarely-do/)

[Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/)

> [When I thought my professional career was over, it hadn't even started yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-garten/when-i-thought-my-professional-career-was-over-it-hadn-t-even-started/)

[Ina Garten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-garten/)

> [Nobody thought that I could become a professional. I was not that good. It was really just one thing I had fun doing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/nobody-thought-that-i-could-become-a-professional-i-was-not-that-good/)

[Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/)

> [I was a general contractor when I was paying for my first record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-potter/i-was-a-general-contractor-when-i-was-paying-for-my-first-record/)

[Grace Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-potter/)

> [By the time my first solo record came out, I was making a handsome living as a record producer. I had worked with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/by-the-time-my-first-solo-record-came-out-i-was-making-a-handsome/)

[Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/)

> [The first record I bought may have been Del Shannon's 'Runaway.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ramone/the-first-record-i-bought-may-have-been-del-shannon-s-runaway/)

[Joey Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ramone/)

> [My responsibility is to the artist first. There's something that artists intrinsically know about their music and their fanbase that neither the record company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nile-rodgers/my-responsibility-is-to-the-artist-first-there-s-something-that/)

[Nile Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nile-rodgers/)

> [I remember talking with Arcade Fire after their first record, when they were getting all kinds of offers from major labels, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-remember-talking-with-arcade-fire-after-their-first-record-when/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/)

[Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/)

## More by Fats Domino

> [My music is a very simple type, and that's why the kids have no trouble understanding it. They don't want to figure out what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/my-music-is-a-very-simple-type-and-that-s-why-the-kids-have-no/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [I use to love you honey, 'til you spent all my money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-use-to-love-you-honey-til-you-spent-all-my-money/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-found-my-thrill-on-blueberry-hill/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [I used to work in a lumberyard and that's where I first heard a number on a jukebox and I liked it. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-used-to-work-in-a-lumberyard-and-that-s-where-i-first-heard-a/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [Don't send me no letter, cause I can't read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/don-t-send-me-no-letter-cause-i-can-t-read/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [I like nice things. I like champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-like-nice-things-i-like-champagne/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [I'm never going off the road. Love the road. Lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-m-never-going-off-the-road-love-the-road-lot-of-fun/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [If I have any kind of problem, it goes away when I hit the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/if-i-have-any-kind-of-problem-it-goes-away-when-i-hit-the-stage/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [I sing better when I'm hoarse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-sing-better-when-i-m-hoarse/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [As long as I'm in New Orleans, I'm not away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/as-long-as-i-m-in-new-orleans-i-m-not-away-from-home/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [I always had a piano. All of them sound good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-always-had-a-piano-all-of-them-sound-good-to-me/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [If you like a person, then nothing they can do is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/if-you-like-a-person-then-nothing-they-can-do-is-wrong/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [My music was a mixture of everything New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/my-music-was-a-mixture-of-everything-new-orleans/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [I have a hard time pleasing myself with my songs. I have to do them over and over until I think I got them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-have-a-hard-time-pleasing-myself-with-my-songs-i-have-to-do-them/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

> [Rock 'n' Roll is just New Orleans rhythm and blues under a new name. It's got that Dixieland beat and that's what sells records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/rock-n-roll-is-just-new-orleans-rhythm-and-blues-under-a-new-name-it/)

[Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

[Explore all 52 Fats Domino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I was 17 when I made my first record in 1949. I never thought about being professional.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Fats Domino"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in-1949-i-never-thought-about/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in-1949-i-never-thought-about/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/fats-domino-12965_about_i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in_257583.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/fats-domino-12965_about_i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in_257583.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e58/fats-domino-12965_about_i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in_257583.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was 17 when I made my first record in 1949. I never thought about being professional.” — Fats Domino",
                "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": "Fats Domino",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was 17 when I made...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in-1949-i-never-thought-about/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in-1949-i-never-thought-about/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
