Live Each Day Like It's Your Last,

I Think That Most Great Artists Who Are Extremely Known, As I Am, Would Intimidate A Lot Of People. I Don't Want To Do That To People, But I Know I Do.

When I Started To Sing Like Myself - As Opposed To Imitating Nat Cole, Which I Had Done For A While - When I Started Singing Like Ray Charles, It Had This Spiritual And Churchy, This Religious Or Gospel Sound. It Had This Holiness And Preachy Tone To It. It Was Very Controversial. I Got A Lot Of Criticism For It.

Crying's Always Been A Way For Me To Get Things Out Which Are Buried Deep, Deep Down. When I Sing, I Often Cry. Crying Is Feeling, And Feeling Is Being Human.

Music's Been Around A Long Time, And There's Going To Be Music Long After Ray Charles Is Dead. I Just Want To Make My Mark, Leave Something Musically Good Behind. If It's A Big Record, That's The Frosting On The Cake, But Music's The Main Meal.

I Know It Sounds Strange - A Blind Teenager Buzzin' Round On A Motorcycle - But I Liked That; That Was Me. I Had Always Been Nervy, And I Always Had A Lot Of Faith In My Ability Not To Break My Neck.