Well first of all, I'm a singer. I sing since I talk. So the great ballad singers, the people that sang with so much feeling, jazz, blues, all those singers, they were songs that I listened to, records that my mom played for me, and then later I bought.

If you're trying to do what's popular now, you're way behind already. By the time you record it and do it and try to copy it, it's moved on.

It's not so much for me where you come from, who you are, what race you are. We're just human beings that are still a work in progress and there's a lot that we've got to overcome, so that we can all be equal.

When I write a song it's always from the point of view: makes the song the best it can be.

There is nothing better than humor to keep a marriage going.

My daughter is almost a young lady. She's going to be 10 years old in December and I want to be there day-in and day-out.

The responsibility of carrying and bringing a new life into this world is one that cannot be taken lightly.