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.

Even though I'm not Jewish...Israel is one of the few causes I feel good about supporting.

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

Love is a special word, and I use it only when I mean it. You say the word too much and it becomes cheap.

Affluence separates people. Poverty knits 'em together. You got some sugar and I don't; I borrow some of yours. Next month you might not have any flour; well, I'll give you some of mine.

If you can play the blues, you can do anything.

My music had roots which I'd dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil.