Quotes from Shawn Amos

My father's very public life as Famous Amos was the opposite of that of his ex-wife, my mother Shirley, who was fighting a very private, solitary battle with mental illness.

Black people cannot look to government to solve their problems.

When I was growing up in L.A. in the late '70s and early '80s, Michael Jackson's was the first face on TV that looked like mine.

There was a time when a musician was forced to act in a video. Seeing a singer step too far outside of his comfort zone to pour all of his high-school-drama angst into a poorly scripted scenario was a sight to behold.

Rock stars should be able to tune their own guitars, apply their own eyeliner, and pick out their own leather pants.

Despite the sometimes sordid turns his life took, Michael Jackson always held my fascination, like he did for most of us.

Fresh content doesn't exist to game the SEO system. It's the words, images, and stories that truly engage us, make us want to share with others, and creates a bond between us and a brand.

From chain gangs to folk songs to intelligent soul, America has created musicians dedicated to truth, justice, and a better American Way.

Her makeup, hair and general quirkiness overshadow the fact that Cyndi Lauper was one the most soulful chicks to come out of the '80s.

You can talk about Michael Jackson all you want, but John Hughes was the soundtrack to my 1980s life.

We all know the record biz don't pay. All musicians have day jobs - no matter how big they are.

Brands' products should be the manifestation of a company's values. Those values should be the subject of all sorts of wonderful stories that comprise your company's narrative.

The Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie was an unexpected, unplanned pop culture phenomena. My father went from star-maker to star.

I spent years shaking the damage that comes with being burned by living near someone else's spotlight.

New York City has more rock history in its 305 square miles than most of America combined.

Year after year, we see a new crop of musicians who do their best to look tough in lipstick and makeup. Maybe it's a cry for help, an admission of their strong feminine side, or the realization that they don't look so good any other way. Whatever the reason, makeup is as rock n' roll as a Marshall stack.

As a child, I experienced black culture as many people did in America: on the TV, radio, and stages.

From their '61 Cavern Club debut to their last rooftop concert eight years later, The Beatles gave every serious artist in their wake the songbook and sound for their career. It's the musical trough from which nearly every musician drinks.

At its best, American music is the soundtrack of our long - and often painful - march toward a more perfect union.

Many cities make music, but no city breathes music quite like Memphis. The songs and sounds that come from here are uniquely American.

In the world of celebrity, there is one universal law: if there's a scandal or death, Al Sharpton will be there.

Throughout the '50s, tons of unknown locals came through Sun to record their demos. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis all made their first recordings at the former Memphis Recording Service.

While my six-song EP is unlikely to set any sales records, it's one of my biggest personal achievements - on par with starting my own company. On par with selling my own company.

If you're going to write an anthem for an old man who's up at political bat for the last time, give him a decent song. Send him off with something that creates some chills or something.