It was about 1953 or `54 when I was either thirteen or fourteen years old. The funny thing  is that I had been listening to Rhythm & Blues before that. And I was hanging out with  the kids my age of course and that's what they listened to and that's what I listened to,  and I also listened to classical music too. My mother wanted to give me quote culture.  She wanted to make sure her children were quote cultured. And what that meant was  really European culture you know. And what it certainly did was give me a pretty well-  rounded cultural foundation, so I'm happy about the way things really turned out.  Because I can use all of that in playing jazz and then it also gives me an avenue of being  involved with classical music if the desire is there and the opportunity arises. So I've got  a whole spectrum of things that are part of my foundation. Anyway my mother was a  very important, the most important influence on me as far as not only support but being  able to push me, move me forward. Because I had a tendency to kind of lay back and be a  little shy you know. And she would just push me on out there. And I'm glad she did you  know. Anyway, I noticed in high school that the kids that were the most mature acting  and the coolest and the most mysterious were the ones that listened to jazz.