---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rock & roll fan that I am, Thelonious…"
description: "\"Rock & roll fan that I am, Thelonious Monk is probably my favorite musical artist.\" — Robert Christgau"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/robert-christgau-9660_am_rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk_3066826.jpg"
---

#  Rock &amp; roll fan that I am, Thelonious Monk is probably my…

![“Rock &amp; roll fan that I am, Thelonious Monk is probably my favorite musical artist.” quote by Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/robert-christgau-9660_am_rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk_3066826.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/robert-christgau-9660_am_rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk_3066826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/robert-christgau-9660_am_rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk_3066826.jpg)

> “Rock &amp; roll fan that I am, Thelonious Monk is probably my favorite musical artist.”

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

## About This Quote

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

Appreciating a pianist’s unique style reveals personal taste in music.

**In simple terms:** Liking Monk shows personal music preference.

Key Takeaway

Explore diverse artists.

Themes

music personal taste artistic influence

Mood

reflective enthusiastic

Type

personal musical

When to use this quote

- Concerts
- listening sessions
- music education
- personal playlists
- collecting records

Key Concepts

Jazz improvisation cultural impact

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal taste shape musical discovery?
- What does Monk’s style teach about improvisation?

A Different Perspective

Preference may overlook broader musical contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk/) [Monk Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk-probably-231109/) [Musical Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-artist/) [Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock/) [Rock Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-roll/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thelonious-monk/)

## Related quotes

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [Some consider me as a living Buddha. That's nonsense. That's silly. That's wrong. If they consider me a simple Buddhist monk, however, that's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/some-consider-me-as-a-living-buddha-that-s-nonsense-that-s-silly-that/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [ \[Thelonious\] Monk is a subject in itself. I mean, most piano players in most big bands sit down and they play with the band,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-brown/thelonious-monk-is-a-subject-in-itself-i-mean-most-piano-players-in/)

[Ray Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-brown/)

> [I got a chance to listen to and watch Thelonious Monk and his quartet play two shows a night, for six weeks. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-corea/i-got-a-chance-to-listen-to-and-watch-thelonious-monk-and-his-quartet/)

[Chick Corea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-corea/)

> [ I was \[ on Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition\] with Ralph Bowen, and Joel Frahm, Jimmy Greene, John Ellis. You can't play the saxophone… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-was-on-thelonious-monk-international-saxophone-competition-with/)

[Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/)

> [I like Thelonious Monk, he's so gnarled, he's like a piece of machinery that's pulled up the bolts on the floor and gone off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-like-thelonious-monk-he-s-so-gnarled-he-s-like-a-piece-of-machinery/)

[Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/)

> [ I'm very gratified that I had my little 15 minutes,or whatever \[at the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition\]. It certainly didn't make me rich… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-m-very-gratified-that-i-had-my-little-15-minutes-or-whatever-at-the/)

[Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/)

> [ \[Winning the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition\]definitely opened some doors. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/winning-the-thelonious-monk-international-saxophone-competition/)

[Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/)

> [I got into music when I was a little boy. My dad was always into jazz. I got my education from him. The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-king/i-got-into-music-when-i-was-a-little-boy-my-dad-was-always-into-jazz/)

[Ted King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-king/)

> [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/)

[Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/)

> [Jazz music and, more specifically, jazz musicians, are my artistic heroes. I want to be the Thelonious Monk of acting. He had no concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-st-john/jazz-music-and-more-specifically-jazz-musicians-are-my-artistic/)

[Trevor St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-st-john/)

> [When I came out of the conservatory, the first thing I did was to go see Thelonious Monk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/when-i-came-out-of-the-conservatory-the-first-thing-i-did-was-to-go/)

[Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/)

> [Bop began with Jazz but one afternoon somewhere on a sidewalk maybe 1939, 1940, Dizzy Gillespie or Charlie Parker or Thelonious Monk was walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bop-began-with-jazz-but-one-afternoon-somewhere-on-a-sidewalk-maybe/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [The more original something is, the more of a threat it seems until the people catch up with it. That happened with Thelonious Monk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/the-more-original-something-is-the-more-of-a-threat-it-seems-until/)

[Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/)

> [My dad was into jazz, so there was a lot of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington playing in the house, but also a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/my-dad-was-into-jazz-so-there-was-a-lot-of-thelonious-monk-and-duke/)

[Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/)

## More by Robert Christgau

> [The idea with a collection is sort of to begin with a kind of bang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/the-idea-with-a-collection-is-sort-of-to-begin-with-a-kind-of-bang/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [“One concept the non-old have trouble getting their minds around is the difference between taste and judgment. It's fine not to like almost anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/one-concept-the-non-old-have-trouble-getting-their-minds-around-is/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [You know, criticism began as the province of amateurs, of wealthy men who liked the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/you-know-criticism-began-as-the-province-of-amateurs-of-wealthy-men/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [I believe that writing on music is experienced inside your head, is not a physically present in the world, it has a different kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/i-believe-that-writing-on-music-is-experienced-inside-your-head-is/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [Chuck Berry's 'Maybellene' hit the airwaves at about the time Alan Freed got to New York, and it was definitely a song I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/chuck-berry-s-maybellene-hit-the-airwaves-at-about-the-time-alan/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [I don't think it's such a bad idea that people learn the same history in school. I think it tends to ground people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/i-don-t-think-it-s-such-a-bad-idea-that-people-learn-the-same-history/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [My wife is more important to me than anything in the world - including music. She's a great editor and companion for all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/my-wife-is-more-important-to-me-than-anything-in-the-world-including/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [You can only adjust to so much history in your life. I still have trouble texting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/you-can-only-adjust-to-so-much-history-in-your-life-i-still-have/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [I've always been a jazz fan, but I don't write much about jazz, because I don't have the chops. But it's really, really hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/i-ve-always-been-a-jazz-fan-but-i-don-t-write-much-about-jazz-because/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [There's a musicologist named Peter van der Merwe whose theory is that the blues generates tune families, and that their similarity to each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/there-s-a-musicologist-named-peter-van-der-merwe-whose-theory-is-that/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [Anyway, you know, when Richard Meltzer said rock and roll died in '68, what he means is Jefferson Airplane were no longer his buddies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/anyway-you-know-when-richard-meltzer-said-rock-and-roll-died-in-68/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [I basically believe that all pop stars create personas and manipulate them. What we relate to are not their real selves; they are projections,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/i-basically-believe-that-all-pop-stars-create-personas-and-manipulate/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [My personal experience has been that in my free bohemian subculture, I'm not unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/my-personal-experience-has-been-that-in-my-free-bohemian-subculture-i/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [If you wanna write non-fiction you have to be interested in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/if-you-wanna-write-non-fiction-you-have-to-be-interested-in-the-world/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

[Explore all 71 Robert Christgau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

## More Am quotes

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/)

[Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/)

[Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/)

> [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/)

[Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/)

> [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/)

[Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/)

> [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/)

[Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/)

> [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/)

[Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/)

[Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Rock & roll fan that I am, Thelonious Monk is probably my favorite musical artist.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Christgau"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk-is-probably-my-favorite/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Am"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk-is-probably-my-favorite/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/robert-christgau-9660_am_rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk_3066826.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/robert-christgau-9660_am_rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk_3066826.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92f/robert-christgau-9660_am_rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk_3066826.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Rock & roll fan that I am, Thelonious Monk is probably my favorite musical artist.” — Robert Christgau",
                "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": "Robert Christgau",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Rock & roll fan that I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk-is-probably-my-favorite/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/rock-roll-fan-that-i-am-thelonious-monk-is-probably-my-favorite/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
