I've known the glory of the stage and the glory of the spotlight. I still crave it. I want to be on 'American Bandstand' and 'Soul Train' as a solo artist. As a producer, songwriter and arranger, I help other artists say what they want to say. But on my records, I say what I want to say.

I'm very proud of my love for Whitney Houston. She really changed my life. She made my life a better life. She was so beautiful in her love for God, her love for her family and her love for music. She truly loved her music. She could do everything! She had flawless rhythm, flawless pitch, flawless feeling, and flawless beauty.

I just want to play for the people, give my new sound to them, and encourage them and be encouraged by people.

A lot of artists don't like the sound of their voice. They're put off by it.

To be a superstar is incredible pressure. And also in our country, I'm going to speak about this, America. We have a way of kind of making it hard on our superstars. I don't sense it when I go to Europe or I go to Japan.

I wanted to be Jimi Hendrix's drummer when I was in high school, but I graduated in 1970, the year he died.

I think it's artist's role to give and to receive and the people to give it, hear it, vibe on it, and give it back around again.