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.

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

Live each day like it's your last, 'cause one day you gonna be right

I heard someone say that all black people got rhythm. Bullshit.

Now Listen You know I work so hard, all day long Everything I try to do, Seem to always turn out wrong That's why I wanna stop by on my way home and say Let's go get stoned

I sing what I sing true. Each night I sing it the way I feel that night.

My mom taught me a lot. A lot about minding your own business and leaving other people's business alone. And let them think what they want.