I always had this energy level that made me want to come to New York.
I don’t like rap that you can’t understand. The youth is so quick and alert.
I don’t trip on that much. I just like to enjoy life and be happy.
I think music all the time.
I’d definitely love to play in Nashville again. That would be really good.
Soul has no musical geographical or racial boundaries.
People are always defining and re-defining music. My style of playing has been characterized as smooth jazz and acid jazz. I listen as I play; I’m not caught up in defining the type of music I play.
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.
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 the hip hop artists don’t write music. They write words.
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.
Now I get exposure first with people directly in the clubs. This is a unique situation for me.
Most musicians count at the beginning, and never count and talk to their musicians after that. They only talk to them at the end of the song. But I would count with them and talk.
Most artists have contracts directly with the record company, and when they do music, all of their music is owned by the record company. But I did mine through a production company.
I was with PolyGram; that was the big label that I was with for the longest, like 12 years.
It’s a wonderful feeling just being in this creative motif.
I’ve been sampled so much and I’m glad it’s happened, it’s a great compliment.
I still look good. I’m trippin’, but people tell me that all the time. So check it out, I’m 63, and still kicking. I’ve been putting records out every year.
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.
DJs and people in the street know what they like.
I couldn’t get my album played over the so-called smooth jazz stations. Jazz stations would not play it. You don’t always know who you’re making that soul connection with.