There is more value in placing a flower in a rifle barrel than making war. As Jimi Hendrix used to say, musical notes have more importance than bullets.

There is nothing more contagious on this planet than enthusiasm.

Live up to your convictions. You walk in grace or you walk in fear. You can't have it both ways.

Some songs are just like tattoos for your brain... you hear them and they're affixed to you.

First of all, the music that people call Latin or Spanish is really African. So Black people need to get the credit for that.

The best part of touring, still, is touching people's hearts and igniting my band and igniting the people into what you call a spiritual revelation is sound and emotion.

We are capable of creating miracles ourselves and the greatest miracle is to create a masterpiece of joy out of your life with no excuses. The thing I focus on is going straight to heart. I go to mine first because if I don't feel it, you're not going to feel it. I take a deep breath and remind myself that before I give it to you I have to give it to myself.