Ariana Morganstern, Ravi Shankar, and me. We developed a beautiful friendship over the years. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Barry White. He arrived at the studio for his interview in a gold Stutz. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

William Claxton. I miss him. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Cecil Taylor. Kenny G fans stay away. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Nina Simone. Knowing her was a treasure and a pleasure. (Photo by Gia)

The Gaden Shartse Monks. They won the Nobel Peace Prize the day they were in the studio in 1988. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Miriam Makeba. She is known as Mama Africa. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

David Byrne. I parked his Citroën for him. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Elvin Jones. Coltrane’s amazing drummer. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Mongo Santamaria. Cuba’s gift to percussion. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Alice Coltrane. She was a radiant presence.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo. We were playing their music 5 years before “Graceland.” (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Chuck Mangione. Whatever happened to him?

Anita O’Day. “Let Me Off Uptown.”

Clarence Gatemouth Brown. His motto says it all.

Gil Scott Heron. So much promise, so much wasted.

Gipsy Kings’ performance at KCRW was great fun. (Photo by Steve Laufer)

Ryuichi Sakamoto in the studio in 2010. (Photo by Gregg Lewis)