Quotes About Influence

I remember singing around the house to records that were playing. All kinds of music. And the great James Cleveland was often in our house, and I grew up with his sound as well.

I don't think there's a problem. First of all, I don't think music turns people into social liabilities. Because you hear a lyric

Music to me is something that I didn't choose; it was a necessity. I grew up with music, my father is a musician. It makes me happy; it makes people happy.

I'm not really a big Springsteen guy. I'll listen to the music, but ... I didn't really get attached to it as much as, like, country artists. That's really who I listen to.

Songs are more powerful than books.

The problem is the following, black music is increasing encumbered by white elements, often pleasant but always superfluous, easily and advantageously replaced with black elements.

That's always been a dream for me, to be able to collaborate and make music with the people that inspired you to make music.

I'm an old-school, embarrassing Joni Mitchell fan. Her music made a hook in my soul and hasn't let go for all these years. I even sing her songs as lullabies to my kids.

Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.

Let us not forget that the greatest composers were also the greatest thieves. They stole from everyone and everywhere.

Although I am basically self taught, I consider Debussy my teacher - the most important elements are colour, light and shadow.

My whole thing is just to put out positive messages in the music, give people something that can change their lives.

Well, I'll tell you, I don't know how aware teenagers are of me. I think it really depends on the teenager and how well-versed in music they are and what kind of music they like.

What really swings is the music of the United States, Cuba, the Caribbean and vicinity, and, of course, Brazil. The rest is all waltzes.

The blues echoes right through into soul, R&B and hip hop. It's part of the make-up of modern music. You can't turn your back on the blues.

I love making music and all that, but at the end of the day I don't think that's what people are going to remember about a person.

You learn so much about music from all the people you surround yourself with - good, bad and indifferent. It's extremely hard to be specific.

Of all the arts I think Music has the most mighty, universal, and immediate effect.

I could always sing, from a really young age, but my voice was really weird. I used to make my mum turn up the radio every day in our house. She was well into music so I got that from her.

The art of utterance persuades initially by its music and its rhythm, before semiotic or personal characteristics come into play.

You can't play anything on a horn that Louis Armstrong hasn't played

I think It's a bit of a disappointment that a lot of people's Golden Age of music is still the '60s.

I've seen country music go uptown, like we say, and I'm proud I was there when it happened.

There are two sides of me, the bachata/tropical Latin side and the English pop as well. They're both equally important, so I'll always make sure to keep both roots in my music.