I always try to write a song, I never just want to write a record. Originally I was not writing songs for myself. Songwriting is my gift from God.

A taste of honey is worse than none at all.

My philosophy on writing a song for myself is that I always, always, always want to write a song. I always want to write a song. I realize that as a record producer or a singer or whatever I might not, if I recorded on myself or someone else, the first time out I might not give it the right treatment, so that the world or many people will accept it and it'll be a public hit, or anything like that.

I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music

And I can say this, most of the people who have recorded my songs are songwriters themselves.

I remember my first check that I got for a thousand dollars, and where I grew up, I never thought I'd have a thousand dollars at one time.

Drugs are in every walk of life - doctors, lawyers, preachers, the guy who works for IBM, teenagers on the street, teenagers in school.