I was blessed, being around artists like Duke Ellington, Count Basie. They're the ones that did it. When you joined ranks with people like that - artists and humanitarians like that - you've got it made, because all you've got to do is keep your eyes and ears open, and they're teaching you, every night on the bandstand. I know some drummers who would give their left arm just to play one number with Duke Ellington, and I had two and a half years once, and one year another time. That's a blessing. So my take on this is, if it wasn't for them, where would I be? I'd be home making spaghetti. When you have that kind of - because all those bandleaders were not only great on the bandstand, but off the bandstand  - humanitarians. They had time for everybody. He spent as much time with you as if you were the President. Duke Ellington's dressing-room door was always open, whoever had a problem. That's why he had all those guys for so many years: Harry Carney, 50 years; Rabbit Johnny Hodges], 45 years; everybody - Lawrence Brown, Sonny Greer. That's another guy. Sonny Greer. I loved him. He fit that band to a tee, that early band. A different style altogether, but good. Last time I saw him, he had been out of the band. I was with Duke Ellington's band at the Apollo. He came up to me and says, "Lou, I need to get a pair of hi-hats. " I always carried some extra ones. So I went out to the dressing room after the show and gave him the hi-hats. He kissed me and says, "Great. " A fabulous guy. One of a kind.