What makes my approach special is that I do different things. I do jazz, blues, country music and so forth. I do them all, like a good utility man.
Interpretation
Ray Charles emphasizes the importance of versatility in music and creativity.
In this quote, Ray Charles highlights his unique approach to music by showcasing his versatility across different genres like jazz, blues, and country. He describes himself as a 'utility man,' indicating that his ability to adapt and blend different musical styles is what sets him apart in the industry, suggesting that diversity in creativity is valuable and enriching.
In practice
This quote can inspire musicians to explore different genres during an interview.
I suppose I've always done my share of crying, especially when there's no other way to contain my feelings. I know that men ain't supposed to cry, but I think that's wrong. Crying's always been a way for me to get things out which are buried deep, deep down. When I sing, I often cry. Crying is feeling, and feeling is being human. Oh yes, I cry.
I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.
To me, music is entertainment - what else can it be? In fact, it's the only language I know of that's universal.
Just because you can't see anything , doesn't mean you should shut your eyes.
Any artist, when he goes in to record, should have the feeling that any song he records can be a hit. This may sound egotistical, but it makes sense.
When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.
Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth.
The nervous system of any age or nation is its creative workers, its artists. And if that nervous system is profoundly disturbed by its environment, the work it produces will inescapably reflect the disturbances, sometimes obliquely and sometimes with violent directness.
It's always funny to me when people use the phrase 'Best guitar player in the world'. There are too many variables such as technique, uniqueness, emotional investment in the notes, etc. But If I had to pick one, it would be Tommy Emmanuel. Watching him perform can be a study in artistic and virtuosic human achievement.
I was always concerned with writing to my age at a particular moment. That was the way I would keep faith with the audience that supported me as I went along.
When you write a song, a song has longevity
Music kept me off the streets and out of trouble and gave me something that was mine that no one could take away from me.
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