My Music Had Roots Which I'd Dug

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 Can't Help What I Sound Like. What I Sound Like Is What I Am. You Know? I Cannot Be Anything Other That What I Am.

I'm Not A Jazz Singer, Blues Singer Or Country Singer. I'm A Singer That Can Sing Rhythm & Blues, That Can Sing Jazz, That Can Sing Country. There's A Big Difference. In Other Words, I'm Not A Specialist.

Art Tatum -- He Was A Genius. And Einstein, Not Me.

I'd Like To Think That When I Sing A Song, I Can Let You Know All About The Heartbreak, Struggle, Lies And Kicks In The Ass I've Gotten Over The Years For Being Black And Everything Else, Without Actually Saying A Word About It.