Norman Simmons discusses his start in Chicago

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Norman Simmons discusses his aspirations as a young man

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Norman Simmons on leaving Chicago

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Q: “You mention you’re from Chicago, how did you get started there?”

A: Norman Simmons: “Well, as far as...”

Interviewer: “That is as far as the piano go?”

Norman Simmons: “As today as I play the engagement at the Cafe de Cope, I'm utilizing a lot of things right now, but I didn't realize how ... (Laughs). Another level of ... you know, and this is very interesting. In particular in my life I like the fact, that there's just new doors opening all at the time. But in Chicago, one of the things I encounter now, a lot of people say, "You know, when did you start playing jazz, you know?" And a lot of people today find themselves in today discovering jazz, you know, or whatever. I never had to discover jazz. You know, I was just born in it and jazz wasn't an isolated music as much as it is today. You know, all the music we heard on the radio was jazz, you know.”