I think as long as people 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
No one is original. Everyone is derivative. — Sonny Rollins
There was a period which I refer to as the ‘Golden Age of Jazz,’ which sort of encompasses the middle thirties through the sixties, we had a lot of great innovators, all creating things which will last the world for a long, long time. — Sonny Rollins
I guess I’m fortunate that I’m still around and I emphasize “I guess” because you never can tell what musicians would be playing had they been around as long as I have. – Sonny Rollins