A biography for Scatman Crothershasn’t been written yet.
“You know, I'd forget words and start just singing noises.”
“I got simple tastes. Don't go in for all that flashy business.”
“I was about to be a preacher, but I was a sinner.”
“It's a tough business, yes it is. But I've been fortunate. The only real hard times I had was when I was with Montague's Kentucky Serenades. We really had it tough then.”
“I don't get excited or riled easily.”
“I always kept busy. If the music business got bad I'd get me a job doin' somethin' else. Bellhop. Porter. Anything to make an honest living.”
“The Bible is the book I read. It's got answers for everything.”
“I'm a connoisseur of sausage.”
“Guy asked me, 'Scat, what is there left for you to do?' And I said, 'A Broadway play, man!' Can you dig it? That's the only thing I never done. I'd like to say I had.”
“I've had a group ever since '36, off and on.”
“Terre Haute. They used to call it 'Terrible Hut' because it was so wide open. Gambling, red light district, speak-easies. I entertained for all the gangsters. Can't name a gangster that didn't come into the place where I worked.”
“To be honest , I looked at 'The Shining' as just doing another movie.”
“Age ain't nothing but a figure. Let's go out there and play some kick the can. It's all in the mind; let's become kids. That's been my philosophy of life anyhow, man.”
“You ain't no more than me, and I ain't no more than you. We're all God's children.”
“Now that I'm older, I couldn't do music full-time. You don't get home until two or three a.m. Acting, you can be at home with your family.”
“I admit, music is my first love. I enjoy acting but I couldn't give up my music.”
“Color don't mean anything. People gonna try to put you in a place one way or the other.”
“Oh, sure, I love boxing.”
“I'm 70 years old. I'm a young man, and I've still got a lot to learn, that's right, and I'm learning every day.”
“I really don't enjoy watching myself perform. That's why I usually don't go to see my movies.”