To Quincy Jones, For Showing The Way ...

I had a lot. Count Basie, Ray, Steve Ross in business, Benny Carter, big time. When people give that to you it’s a natural instinct to do the same thing for somebody else.

Your nickname is Q. Were you ever contacted by QTips to be a spokesman?

[ Laughs ] No, God no. What are you? A comedy writer?

You’ve worked with every famous person in the planet. Who’s your favorite?

That’s impossible. Come on, baby—Basie, Ella, Sinatra. It’s like asking me which kid I love best. I mean Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Sinatra, who do you pick? No way.

Easy. Sinatra and if it’s between Sinatra and Louis Armstrong I pick Louis.