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.

Many times during auditions, I was told that I couldn't carry a note with a bucket, and that I sure couldn't play the piano.

I had to pawn my clothes just to pay my rent.

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.

Just like you can buy grades of silk, you can buy grades of justice.

Just because you can't see anything , doesn't mean you should shut your eyes.

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.