Percy Sledge
after a show where, due to transportation problems, he arrived on stage without even meeting the band or discussing a set list:

"I thought it was Steve Cropper back there so I wasn't worried."

Earl King
when asked why he used Minnesota musicians at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival:

"I do songs with them I wouldn't even try with other guys. Curtis reminds me how the lyrics go if I forget and I think John has a tape recorder between his ears. They know my stuff better than anybody else. They make me work!"

James "Thunderbird" Davis
after being told by a club owner that he was giving the guitar player too many solos:

"I came up with Guitar Slim and I love the guitar. The crowd is loving it and I am too, anybody that can play it like that ought to play until he's done."

click here to go to the "T-Bird" Davis story

Pinetop Perkins
when asked by the promoter if he wanted to rehearse with the Butanes before his show:

If they need to rehearse with me then you picked the wrong guys, it's just the blues.

after the first set:

"Those guys sure don't need no rehearsing."

James Carr
after calling off such songs as "Wonderful", "Ain't That Good News" and "I Got A Woman" even though they weren't on the set list:

"I thought I was gonna stump these guys but they knew all of 'em. They even told me how the bridge went that I forgot was in there."

click here to go to the James Carr story

Al Rapone
after people inquire what Southwest Louisiana town the Butanes are from:

"They're from the Northern bayou, it's not on any map."

Bettye Lavette
to music director Rudy Robinson before rehearsal:

"Rudy we got a band from MINNESOTA. We'd better bring a drum machine."

to music director Rudy Robinson after rehearsal:

"Are they really from MINNESOTA? I had no idea people up there could play this stuff."

Bo Diddley
whose contract specifically stated no encore, after the Butanes agreed to do one more because the crowd refused to leave the theater:

"Do you mind if I play too?"

click here to go to the Bo Diddley story

Dalton Reed
after hearing a tape of the Butanes so he could OK them as his backing band:

"OK them? Will these guys will let me play with them? Sure I'll work with them!"

Lady Bianca
after the Butanes sat in with her on her last tour:

"I forgot how good it was to play with y'all. What are you doing next and can I still afford you?"

Lee Shot Williams
after he said he'd sure like to sing a song next we hadn't rehearsed (God Blessed Our Love) and was asked, "what key?":

"You guys would get over in both White and Black clubs!"