Johnny Sandlin (producer/musician), on Duane's ability to bring out the best in his fellow musicians (as told to Swampland.com): He was one of the most interesting, exciting and alive people that I ever knew. He was one of the most intelligent as well. Most of the time he was great to be around and he was so dedicated to music and it was a central thing in our lives. Whenever anyone played with Duane he would bring out the best in them. Not that it was a competition, but he was an inspiration. He was one of the best that there ever was.

Dickey Betts (guitarist), on how Duane developed his style on slide guitar (as told to Jasobrecht.com): Well, Robert Johnson. You've heard that name a million times, but he's influenced so many people. I guess that he was probably one of the biggest influences on Duane. [And] who's the guy, the slide player? Elmore James! He got really into Elmore James a lot for the electric part of it. You know, Robert Johnson never played any electric, of course. So Elmore James was a big influence on his electric slide.

Tom Dowd (producer), on Duane's diplomatic skills in the studio (as told to Swampland.com): [Duane was] a pussycat, an absolute humble, soft spoken, brilliant leader. He never provoked anyone in the band. He was never demonstrative, but he was in charge and he got everyone to go the right way, whether he did it by playing them something or saying something to them.