--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think as long as people are around and…" description: "\"I think as long as people are around and can hear a record and hear people like Lester Young on a recording, there will always be a great inspiration f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/sonny-rollins-13594_inspiration_i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and_2092706.jpg" --- # I think as long as people are around and can hear a record… ![“I think as long as people are around and can hear a record and hear people like Lester Young on a recording, there will always be a great inspiration for somebody to try to create jazz.” quote by Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/sonny-rollins-13594_inspiration_i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and_2092706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/sonny-rollins-13594_inspiration_i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and_2092706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/sonny-rollins-13594_inspiration_i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and_2092706.jpg) > “I think as long as people are around and can hear a record and hear people like Lester Young on a recording, there will always be a great inspiration for somebody to try to create jazz.” [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listening to recordings of past masters inspires new musicians to create jazz. **In simple terms:** Hearing classic jazz sparks new creation. Key Takeaway Study past masters to inspire your own work. Themes inspiration legacy creativity Mood reflective motivational Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - Music education - personal practice - recording sessions Key Concepts Jazz improvisation musical lineage artistic mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn inspiration into personal style? - Which recordings have shaped your music? A Different Perspective Inspiration alone may not translate into skill without practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Lester young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lester-young/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [A man with a silver spoon may get his share of supporters, but he can never be an inspiration for somebody! Patience and hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/a-man-with-a-silver-spoon-may-get-his-share-of-supporters-but-he-can/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) > [In the end, I want to be an inspiration to somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikaela-shiffrin/in-the-end-i-want-to-be-an-inspiration-to-somebody/) [Mikaela Shiffrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikaela-shiffrin/) > [ I loved working with Malcolm \[McDowell\]. He's been such an important person in my life. I mean, not just as someone I was married… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-loved-working-with-malcolm-mcdowell-he-s-been-such-an-important/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [“In an artistic sense, cool came to refer to someone with a signature artistic style so integral as to exude an authentic mode-of-being in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-dinerstein/in-an-artistic-sense-cool-came-to-refer-to-someone-with-a-signature/) Joel Dinerstein > [Charlie Parker was a genius, as was Lester Young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/charlie-parker-was-a-genius-as-was-lester-young/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have from reading novels.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-about-my-people-by-listening-to-2/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [ The amazing thing about Sweets \[Edison\] was that he exactly spoke the way that he played! He was really unique, the one and only.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-brown/the-amazing-thing-about-sweets-edison-was-that-he-exactly-spoke-the/) [Ray Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-brown/) > [When I was 16 or 17 I heard the Count Basie band with Jo Jones and Lester Young and Herschel Evans and I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illinois-jacquet/when-i-was-16-or-17-i-heard-the-count-basie-band-with-jo-jones-and/) [Illinois Jacquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illinois-jacquet/) > [ I used to live at the Cecil Hotel, which was next door to Minton's \[Playhouse\]. We used to jam just about every night when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-webster/i-used-to-live-at-the-cecil-hotel-which-was-next-door-to-minton-s/) [Ben Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-webster/) > [ I'll always remember when I first heard Lester \[Young\]. I'd never heard anyone like him before. He was a stylist with a different sound.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-ll-always-remember-when-i-first-heard-lester-young-i-d-never-heard/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [In those days before hearing Charlie Parker and Dizzy, and before learning of the so-called bebop era--by the way, I have some thoughts about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-johnson/in-those-days-before-hearing-charlie-parker-and-dizzy-and-before/) [J. J. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-johnson/) > [“The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes-2/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [ We were all influenced by Lester \[Young\]. Listen to the records that he made with \[Count\] Basie. Nobody's got what he's got. He's still… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoot-sims/we-were-all-influenced-by-lester-young-listen-to-the-records-that-he/) [Zoot Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoot-sims/) > [I'd been studying the microphone for a dozen years, and I suddenly saw what I'd been doing wrong. I'd been singing too loud. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-gaye/i-d-been-studying-the-microphone-for-a-dozen-years-and-i-suddenly-saw/) [Marvin Gaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-gaye/) > [As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs-on-the-list-i-think-without/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) ## More by Sonny Rollins > [I'm fortunate that I'm making a living at it now because I'm not equipped to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-m-fortunate-that-i-m-making-a-living-at-it-now-because-i-m-not/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [How ironic that the Negro, who more than any other people can claim America's culture as his own, is being persecuted and repressed; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/how-ironic-that-the-negro-who-more-than-any-other-people-can-claim/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I'm now a legend, whether I want to be or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-m-now-a-legend-whether-i-want-to-be-or-not/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I enjoy playing clubs. I still enjoy the closeness of the nightclub venue. However, after a certain period of time and after playing around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-enjoy-playing-clubs-i-still-enjoy-the-closeness-of-the-nightclub/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Music represents nature. Nature represents life. Jazz represents nature. Jazz is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/music-represents-nature-nature-represents-life-jazz-represents-nature/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Improvisation is the ability to create something very spiritual, something of one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/improvisation-is-the-ability-to-create-something-very-spiritual/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Even the most jingoistic person would have to admit that even American cultural music comes from Europe. That's what classical music is, real European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/even-the-most-jingoistic-person-would-have-to-admit-that-even/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [...this is my dilemma. I'm a guy who makes things up as I go along, so nothing is ever finished - there are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/this-is-my-dilemma-i-m-a-guy-who-makes-things-up-as-i-go-along-so/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Jazz is the type of music that can absorb so many things and still be jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/jazz-is-the-type-of-music-that-can-absorb-so-many-things-and-still-be/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [My mother came from St. Thomas. I heard that melody and all I did was actually adapt it. I made my adaptation of sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/my-mother-came-from-st-thomas-i-heard-that-melody-and-all-i-did-was/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I feel that L.A. has not always been my strongest base for support. That can be for various reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-feel-that-l-a-has-not-always-been-my-strongest-base-for-support/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [You had many jazz musicians who lived in the United States, who had a hard time being accepted over here and had to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/you-had-many-jazz-musicians-who-lived-in-the-united-states-who-had-a/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I miss playing with Miles. I did play with him a little while before he left the planet, but even at that time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-miss-playing-with-miles-i-did-play-with-him-a-little-while-before/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Improvisation is really not so much remembering things. And this is what I do when I play. I forget things. When I go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/improvisation-is-really-not-so-much-remembering-things-and-this-is/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [I simply want to reach a level where I will never cease to make progress...so that, even on the bad evenings, I may never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-simply-want-to-reach-a-level-where-i-will-never-cease-to-make/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) [Explore all 50 Sonny Rollins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) ## More Inspiration quotes > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/) Nelly sanaba .c > [Loving you is the best feeling have ever had, and you loving me is the greater gift I have..I will be brave, I wont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/loving-you-is-the-best-feeling-have-ever-had-and-you-loving-me-is-the/) Fash > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-have-learned-that-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want-to-go-and-do/) [C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/) > [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“Complete - Yourself! Others may only enhance your completeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lashauna-d-hinton/complete-yourself-others-may-only-enhance-your-completeness/) Lashauna D. Hinton [Browse all 17,129 Inspiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think as long as people are around and can hear a record and hear people like Lester Young on a recording, there will always be a great inspiration for somebody to try to create jazz.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sonny Rollins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and-can-hear-a-record-and-hear/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and-can-hear-a-record-and-hear/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/sonny-rollins-13594_inspiration_i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and_2092706.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/sonny-rollins-13594_inspiration_i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and_2092706.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/883/sonny-rollins-13594_inspiration_i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and_2092706.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think as long as people are around and can hear a record and hear people like Lester Young on a recording…” — Sonny Rollins", "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": "Sonny Rollins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think as long as people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and-can-hear-a-record-and-hear/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/i-think-as-long-as-people-are-around-and-can-hear-a-record-and-hear/#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 } } ] } ```