I've learned now to talk, act or walk famous. I can still walk around New York, without being molested or bothered. I don't mind autographs - that's part of it. I just do not see the point of being "out there" or behaving outrageously. It will bring nothing but trouble.

Without a piano I don't know how to stand, don't know what to do with my hands.

I remember early on, for instance, having to play wedding gigs, that I hated playing the music. Now I don't have to play music that I don't like. I only get to do what I enjoy, so that's pretty lucky.

If I make a record I love, then somebody will like it. Maybe not everybody, but that won't matter.

On the first album I was saying, that's just one part of me. And then I was thinking, well, am I going to hide the rest of me now just because I'm afraid of something? No. I'm just going to be myself.

God bless Ray Charles. It was such an honor to meet him and sing with him and actually just to watch him sing from just two feet away.

It's important to keep indie record stores alive because their unique environments introduce music lovers to things in a very personal way.