I hate labels because it should be just music. I don't see anything wrong with disco. Call it anything. It's music.

I wanted so badly to play in the park across the street because the kids were playing baseball and football but I had to record.

I said if you're thinkin' of being my brother, it don't matter if you're black or white.

I think a great artist should be able to create any style, any form, anything from rock to pop to gospel to spiritual, just wonderful music where everybody can sing it.

My singing... I'll just say it simple as possible: it's just godly.

I never think about themes. I let the music create itself. I like it to be a potpourri of all kinds of sounds, all kinds of colors, something for everybody, from the farmer in Ireland to the lady who scrubs toilets in Harlem.

A perfectionist has to take his time.