Michael (Jackson) was so shy, he'd sit down and sing behind the couch with his back to me while I sat with my hands over my eyes-and the lights off.

Playing the game, and unfortunately, playing the gangster game is very profitable.

I'm never in my life going to do a record that's a tribute to myself. I don't need it.

It's the attitude about life, man. Looking at the light instead of the dark. Looking at love instead of fear.

Did you know you would become as successful as you have? Hell, no. But you know what? You were prepared, baby.

A great song can make a terrible singer sound good, but a good singer - you put a great song on top of that, you're really in great shape!

The climate in the '50s and '60s for black performers or black people in the entertainment business was atrocious. It was atrocious.