I did a little bit to raise the dignity and recognition of the greatness of African-American music.

People like Clyde McPhatter who came out of the black churches - like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin - were all church singers who became great pop singers because gospel singing is very close to the blues.

The first time I heard Clyde McPhatter singing with the Dominoes at the Apollo I just fell off my chair

My first wife was a theater person.

The songwriters whom we think of being the greatest songwriters usually write one hit and six or seven flops.

It is a great life, this life of music.

There's been so much bad blood between the Kurds and the Turks.