Quotes from Philip Bailey

The songs resonate with a positive hue. That's a positive thing. People feel good singing 'Sing a Song' or 'Shining Star.'

For me, it's always been about doing different things... If you're still jazzed about the possibilities, the chances of you coming up with stuff that has flavor is more conceivable. It keeps you going. Like working with the younger artists. It reminded us of who we are. Sometimes you need that.

Everything repeats itself. There ain't but so many notes on the scale, there ain't but so many chord changes, for real, and there ain't but so many beats. So things come back to you a different way. Don't matter what they call it.

Life can be very challenging. But I've always believed that God is always in control, even when you are going through challenges. Nothing catches him by surprise. It's all part of his plan. I rely on that even during the toughest of times.

I'll Uber to who has the best expressos, and I'll take my iPad and go get a coffee... It's really given the touring situation a whole other layer of enjoyment.

I am a big gospel guy myself and I listen to a lot to gospel music. It inspires me. It encourages me. It uplifts me.

We hope we've been inspiring.

I was always mimicking high-register singers as a kid but I also studied operating as a baritone because I'm a natural baritone.

I loved the title of 'Blue in Green' - as if the color blue was seeping into green, slowly changing it and creating a new color.

I'm a real snob when it comes to coffee.

Sampling has definitely introduced the music to younger generations - helped the music evolve and kept it relevant.

Buying into the hype can get you into a lot of trouble, believing your own press.

Because of my register, Miles Davis' trumpet playing has always been a big influence on my singing. I've always been intrigued by the way he can start anywhere and make it right.

My faith in God has been the rudder that has allowed me to soar above the fray and to stay grounded and to learn from my mistakes.

I'm really glad we came up when we did. When we got started, the record companies were concerned with building careers. They made sure you could put on a live show before you put a record out. And if your first album sold 100,000 to 200,000 copies, they were happy, because they figured you had your foot in the door on a way to a long career.

My solo albums have given me confidence in myself and a broader understanding of what I had to offer.

At an early age, I understood music... the rhyme schemes, melodies and harmonies.

Interestingly enough Miles Davis was an influence, and the way he approached harmonics. And one of my biggest influences was Dionne Warwick, early Dionne Warwick.

When we came up, Clive Davis and other record execs would do anything to keep Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, even Johnny Mathis intact, because they wanted to keep alive a musical legacy. As a result, those artists were able to spend 30 to 40 years in the business and still make a living, still have a fan base.

Music is a very strong force when it comes to making a difference, as well as entertaining, soothing, and encouraging.

We tried to make music that had a very diverse collection of genres - jazz, pop, Latin, even the blues. We tried to have a gumbo soup of expressions. We wanted to create music that would have people dive into a pool of artistic beauty and feel good. And I think we have been really blessed.

I wanted to do a project that was seamless and had all the ingredients from start to finish, from conception to mixing and mastering.

You can get jaded in the music business, but I have so much passion, and I try to do music with different people to 'reset.'

Music is Unity is a foundation that my daughter Trinity Bailey and myself founded over 10 years ago. It's a foundation that benefits foster youth who are aging out of the system. A portion of our proceeds, ticket sales and donations go to funding organizations helping youth with necessities for life, support, and inspiration.