America Quote by Miriam Makeba
“When I was young, I never bought records because my brother Joseph played saxophone and had a record player. I loved listening to his records: The Dorsey Brothers, Duke Ellington, all the big American jazz bands, and vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald, Ernestine Anderson, and Kitty White, a singer from the US who was a friend of Nina Simone. Nobody in America seems to know about her, but she was quite popular in South Africa.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Miriam Makeba on Jazz Influences, 1970s
She reflects on early exposure to jazz through her brother and the overlooked talent of Kitty White, highlighting cultural exchange and forgotten artists.
In simple terms: Early jazz shaped her; many artists remain unknown.
Key Takeaway
Seek out and share hidden musical histories.
Themes
music
family
culture
heritage
recognition
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
Type
historical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- listening to records
- exploring jazz archives
- promoting forgotten singers
Key Concepts
jazz history
cultural transmission
artist legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we preserve and celebrate overlooked musicians?
- What role does family play in shaping musical taste?
A Different Perspective
Limited documentation makes some artists hard to discover.
![“He [Belafonte] was a good teacher and looked after me. He said, 'You have such great talent, you must try not to be a tornado - be like a submarine. It was good advice when I found myself speaking at the UN Committee Against Apartheid and then the UN General Assembly.” quote by Miriam Makeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e74/miriam-makeba-14520_advice_he-belafonte-was-a-good-teacher-and-look_491185.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
