You grow and learn a lot about the industry and what happens behind closed doors over the years.

People in England were coming up to me, saying, My mother and father turned me on to your music. This happened to me 20 years ago. When I was 40 they were saying that.

Having good health, being able to breathe and be happy, that's one of the most beautiful gifts. On top of that, I have the gift to play music and make people happy through that. I'm just telling you from my heart, I'm so in love with life.

Artists don't always know. Almost every song I ever recorded that was a hit at the majors that the promotional people picked I didn't think it would be a hit. I was wrong every time!

A lot of people trip when they get into a lot of money, whether it's in the music business or not-they just get caught up. Trippin's not always a bad thing unless it affects others; then it's a bad thing.

When Herbie Mann called me with a job I was so elated, I worked with him for four years, did some great things with him in New York. Really gonna miss Herbie; one of the greatest cats I ever had the opportunity to work with.

I always had this energy level that made me want to come to New York.

Back in the day, I used to be in the studio recording 20 hours a day. And that was all of the time. I still record a lot of hours, but I don't go as long as I used to.

What we call soul has been around a long time. It comes out of a particular culture that is African in origin, but influenced by 250 years of slavery, as well as other forms of racial oppression.