--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My grammar school graduating class in…" description: "\"My grammar school graduating class in 1941 had a little party for 13 or 14 year-old kids. [Trumpeter] King Kolax's band played for the party and Gene A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/johnny-griffin-65875_band_my-grammar-school-graduating-class-in-19_1845972.png" --- # My grammar school graduating class in 1941 had a little… ![“My grammar school graduating class in 1941 had a little party for 13 or 14 year-old kids. [Trumpeter] King Kolax's band played for the party and Gene Ammons was playing tenor saxophone with the band. And that's when I said, "That's it!" Just like that, tunnelvision ever since.” quote by Johnny Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/johnny-griffin-65875_band_my-grammar-school-graduating-class-in-19_1845972.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/johnny-griffin-65875_band_my-grammar-school-graduating-class-in-19_1845972.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83c/johnny-griffin-65875_band_my-grammar-school-graduating-class-in-19_1845972.png) > “My grammar school graduating class in 1941 had a little party for 13 or 14 year-old kids. \[Trumpeter\] King Kolax's band played for the party and Gene Ammons was playing tenor saxophone with the band. And that's when I said, "That's it!" Just like that, tunnelvision ever since.” Johnny Griffin ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A pivotal musical moment sparked a lifelong focus on a single artistic vision. **In simple terms:** A specific event shaped his career direction. Key Takeaway Embrace moments that clarify your purpose. Themes music career focus Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal historical When to use this quote - performing - career decisions - creative focus Key Concepts artistic vision inspiration Questions to Reflect On - What moment defined your path? - How can you balance focus with openness? A Different Perspective Such singular focus can limit broader exploration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [Graduating class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduating-class/) [Grammar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grammar/) [Grammar school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grammar-school/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Saxophone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saxophone/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tenors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenors/) ## Related quotes > [Actually, when I was in elementary school, I saw a saxophone. A band came to my school, and I saw this guy get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/actually-when-i-was-in-elementary-school-i-saw-a-saxophone-a-band/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [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/) > [On my 50th birthday the Rolling Stones played at my party at Grosvenor House. That's not bad for a kid from Tooting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/on-my-50th-birthday-the-rolling-stones-played-at-my-party-at/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [We've always been quite clear about how we want the songs to sound. 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They call him 'Doctor.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abe-lemons/you-know-what-they-call-the-fellow-who-finishes-last-in-his-medical/) [Abe Lemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abe-lemons/) > [There were a hundred people in my graduating class. I wouldn't have changed it for the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmella/there-were-a-hundred-people-in-my-graduating-class-i-wouldn-t-have/) [Carmella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmella/) > [I went to a public high school that had a very small graduating class of 156 students. I lived a relatively normal childhood until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-mccartney/i-went-to-a-public-high-school-that-had-a-very-small-graduating-class/) [Jesse McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-mccartney/) ## More by Johnny Griffin > [Jazz is music made by and for people who have chosen to feel good in spite of conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-griffin/jazz-is-music-made-by-and-for-people-who-have-chosen-to-feel-good-in/) Johnny Griffin > [My father had played cornet, although I never saw him play it. I found his mouthpiece when I was a kid. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-griffin/my-father-had-played-cornet-although-i-never-saw-him-play-it-i-found/) Johnny Griffin > [I like to play fast. I get excited, and I have to sort of control myself, restrain myself. But when the rhythm section gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-griffin/i-like-to-play-fast-i-get-excited-and-i-have-to-sort-of-control/) Johnny Griffin Explore all 4 Johnny Griffin quotes ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. 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