When you create something out of nothing it's the most thrilling thing.

The minute you think you're greater than the music, you're finished

There are two people that probably influenced me more than anybody out of all the artists out here: that's Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

I believe it also says that I am a friend to everyone and enemy to no one.

It's not easy staying relevant in the marketplace.

I refused to be disrespected. So, at 16, of course, I was a gentleman about it, but I told them and it cost me my job.

I used to tell myself when I was much younger that I didn't want to wake up one day and be 32 years old and still playing records. It's just not going to happen. Well, the joke is on me, because I'm 56 years old now.