Dreams, if they're any good, are always a little bit crazy.

When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.

What I've got to live up to, is being myself. If I do that, the rest will take care of itself.

You never can overwhelm an instrument. You will never get out all that's in an instrument. An instrument will bring you to your limits.

When I'm having a rehearsal and there are new guys who come in to try out for the job, I always let my conductor rehearse them. Because I don't want the guy to get bent out of shape, because I walk in.

I think that most great artists who are extremely known, as I am, would intimidate a lot of people. I don't want to do that to people, but I know I do.

Dreams, if they're any good, are always a little bit crazy.