We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right.

As a parent you try to maintain a certain amount of control and so you have this tug-of-war ... You have to learn when to let go. And that's not easy.

Be your own artist, and always be confident in what youre doing. If youre not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it.

I love producing, writing. I rarely write with other writers unless I have a real great respect for them. Like Burt Bacharach, or Carole Sager, or Stevie Wonder. Somebody like Smokey - like that. Otherwise, I choose to write alone.

Gospel goes with me wherever I go. Gospel is a constant with me.

Clark Terry is an American Master. I love to listen to him, particularly 'Mumbles.' I was so delighted when we received degrees together, along with Edward Kennedy, at the New England Conservatory in 1997.

My faith always has been and always will be important to me.