George Melly discusses being a jazz entertainer.

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George Melly discusses his career path.

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George Melly discusses pop music.

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Q: “You have actually had several different careers, there are several facets to your personality, but as a ‘jazz entertainer’ would you, I think very accurately describe yourself?”

A: “Yes, it was John realy that reached that description because to call myself a blues singer is asking for trouble, I think. Oh, although I have had some understanding of the blues, but I like to think that I belong to that tradition, which was for long disregarded to which people like Fats Waller and certainly the New York blues singers or people like Mamie Smith and so on belonged, of jazz being the vehicle through which they entertained people. Entertainment, after all, has a function as well as deep introspection or the various other qualities that most modern jazz men seem to want to extract from jazz.”