- 
	
	Plantation gospel music was the stuff I fell in love with when I was a kid - these beautiful melodies and these hard, hard stories.   
- 
	
	I know a lot of people who are not here anymore, and I wonder why I'm still here... Not a day goes by that I don't think about Sam Cooke. His presence is so strong and so convincing to me, a true artist, a true talent, who never talked down to people.   
- 
	
	I keep living life as it's dealt to me. Sometimes, it's not dealt 100 percent. Sometimes it's dealt on the low '30s.   
- 
	
	I like to swim, I like to play with my dogs and I love to eat - but I have to start watching that because my suits are getting too small.   
- 
	
	Leave them wanting more and you know they'll call you back.   
- 
	
	When I was a kid, during those days, you couldn't use instruments. It was against the pastor's religion, so all the singers would make these instruments with their voices. It was just unbelievable. I couldn't explain it.   
- 
	
	When I first played New York, it was with James Brown at the Apollo, and I was playing in a band under the name The Valentinos. I remember Sam Cooke saying, 'I want you to go in there with James Brown. I couldn't be as hard on you as James Brown would be.' But we came out marching like soldiers.   
- 
	
	I've got to be honest: I don't listen to any music now. I don't even listen to mine! I like to walk fresh into the studio and have ideas that come straight out of me.   
- 
	
	You knew the difference between Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, straight away. Now everyone sounds like each other, and I don't think that's right.   
- 
	
	I will play my part by singing the spirit into every open heart.   
- 
	
	People shout out for songs and I don't even remember writing them.   
- 
	
	I met a zillion people through Ronnie Wood. He's been my friend since he was in The Faces, and he's still my best friend. A real person, earthy, working 24 hours a day, uplifting to be around, and he's still got that fire about music.   
- 
	
	We take things for granted, and because we wake up every day, you start talking about what you're going to do next week. I said, 'Who told you you would be here next week?'   
- 
	
	People think you have to go through a lot of changes to become a soul singer, You just have to go through life.   
- 
	
	When I want to check out how my life's been, I go through my albums. They steps in my life.   
- 
	
	Estee Lauder cologne. Sam Cooke always wore it, and I started wearing it because he wore it.   
- 
	
	You gotta know when it's time to hang up. But when I finally go, let me go out on stage, my perfect ending. Don't let me go when I'm sick or asleep. Let me be in motion.   
- 
	
	I started with Sam Cooke when I was 6 or 7 years old.   
- 
	
	I was hoping I could become a success to give my mother and my father a better way of living.   
- 
	
	You learn if you mind stay open. And once you can't learn no more, your mind must be closed. Life goes on and you keep growing, you know?   
- 
	
	I was on stage with Cyndi Lauper, and my trousers split. It seemed like she was going to sing for ever.   
- 
	
	It is my fondest wish that the gift of song that God has given me will flow from my soul to yours and help ease any burden that might weigh upon you.   
- 
	
	I'm amazed by the ground that I covered. The music's the number-one thing. And if it isn't, you better quit now.   
- 
	
	I think people like it when I tell them, 'I'm lucky to be here, because they are, too. Ain't nothing to do with age. There ain't nothing promised to you. Everybody's going to die.   
