I liked the more sophisticated urban style of blues like Ray Charles and B. B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Lou Rawls; people like that with more of a tendency toward jazz.

The mountain is high, the valley is low, and you're confused on which way to go. So I've come here to give you a hand, and lead you into the promised land. So, come on and take a free ride, come on and sit here by my side, come on and take a free ride!

I'm primarily thought of as a rocker, and certainly 'Frankenstein' had a very dramatic power rock image. It was almost a precursor of heavy metal and fusion. But I also love jazz and classical and if there's one common thread that runs through all my music, it is blues.

I started out playing ukulele when I was 5 or 6 years old.

The most profound, tangible influence in my life has been my wife, Monique. I don't know that I would even be alive were it not for her, and I certainly would not be the person that I am today.

I love music more just in and of itself. I love harmony and rhythm.

As far as I'm concerned, blues and jazz are the great American contributions to music.