Sweets Edison Quotes

"[Count] Basie was my mentor, my father and brother. He did it so much to me … So every time I got the opportunity to play again with him, I immediately did it. I remember one time, in the 50’s, that I had a gig with my group in a small town in about 200 km in the north of Miami, Florida. Basie played from 2:00 am to 6:00 am! Yes! That was like that in those days! When I finished my gig, I took a car, went down to Miami and played with him for the rest of the night! All the members of the band were so happy to see me there that they gave me all the trumpet solos in the band! I was sitting just near by the great drummer Sonny Payne. Good God that was really something! A great early morning to remember to!" - Sweets Edison