I found that the men and women who got to the top were those who did the jobs they had in hand, with everything they had of energy and enthusiasm and hard work.
Every significant event that takes place in our lives is set to some kind of music.
I think you create your own hipness.
For me, the other thing is not just a strong sense of spirituality.
The line between greatness and obscurity is very, very small.
Life is too short to harbor any hostilities towards anybody.
There was a time in American history when almost every white person knew who Aretha Franklin was.
The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief.
It's hard for me to believe sometimes that my three kids never met my dad. Because one of the things - one of the real blessings to me is that while my dad left this Earth when I was in my 20s, he's just as much a part of, of my life now than he was then, in terms of I often think of my dad. I think of what my dad might do in a certain situation. And so he continues to be, you know, my hero, my role model.
I try to keep my ear to the streets without sacrificing who I am as an artist. If a song needs a drum machine I'll use a drum machine. If it needs a drummer, I'll use a real drummer.
If Trump is going to govern in a fascist way, then we need to make America ungovernable.