I just wanted to go out and make a record that I've always wanted to make since I was a kid.

Remember the Stax label and how if you liked one record, you liked all the others as well? You don't talk to a lot of people who tell you how much they love their record label. I don't care how many records they sell.

When I was growing up, I always knew that if I ever got anything, I was going to give back as much as I can. I learned that all you have to be willing to do is give your time.

We can't thank Dave enough. He could call me if my wife was about to have a baby and tell me he needed tonight for his show and I'd find some way to get her to let me head to New York.

I don't think I get the respect as a singer. With this record, I wanted to bring respect to my band.

I've known Tiger since he was 18. Tiger is a great guy. I am so happy for him right now.

We raised almost 2 million dollars at the last golf tournament that can be used for minority scholarships and Junior Golf programs. The payoff for the work we do is so much more valuable than the work we actually do for it.

It was important to me to find a label that wouldn't back out after a first single. Everyone's so used to hearing me with Hootie, they're going to be skeptical.

We went to church every Sunday. When I was a kid, the only time I sang was around my family.

I just wanted to go out and make a record that I've always wanted to make since I was a kid.

We got to do a few things with President Clinton. To be invited to Washington again to play with Ashanti and all those other cool people there in front of President Bush and the rest of the world feels awesome. I'm really looking forward to going.

When I was in high school, I read all of Neil Simon's plays.

I expect to make a career out of country music.

I have major respect for Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood and Sugarland. They are wonderful. They're superstars in the music business.

I think people who go out and tell you how much they're gonna change things are the people who end up being just another whatever. I'm never trying to change anything. That's not for me.

I work hard to let my wife know how much I love her. I try to do that every day.

I'm a kid who grew up in an all African-American neighborhood and got into schools and aspired to just be me, and didn't worry about labels or anything. Just wanted to be a success at what I did.

I'm lucky my wife is a strong woman. She's one of the stronger people I've ever met. It's hard for me to be away, but I know my home life is fine because my wife is there.

It's hard to be married to me, and it was a lot harder when I was younger!

My family lives a pretty normal life.

Ray Charles has always been a big part of my life.

There's two times of year for me: Football season, and waiting for football season.

Be yourself dont take anything from anyone and never let them take you alive.

In my experience, honesty is the best policy. And being a friend to somebody is not always the best way to help them.

I was born in Taunton, Massachusetts on June 1, 1917, but I actually grew up in nearby New Bedford.

If you play the guitar, you've got to hold the chords down with one hand while you play with the other, so you're limited to one hand. But the piano is the king of instruments because you have your 10 fingers, which become the 10 members of the orchestra.

One cannot resist the lure of Africa.

Being scared is part of being alive. Accept it. Walk through it.

I do not go out to dinner or to the movies with the neighbors, as I do with my friends. I don't make dates with them. I don't have to.

Yes, God is the end of your work, but He is the beginning also.

You take your problems to a god, but what you really need is for the god to take you to the inside of you.

I would say anything is possible on 'Jane the Virgin.'

Of course it's not enough to be a good man to be an effective ruler and it never has been.

The eye of God ends up inside, so that, in the end, you take care of judgment and punishment yourself.

Was music my talent really? No, I don't think I was particularly talented.

All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings.

Some things are impossible.

The institution of a public library, containing books on education, would be well adapted for the information of teachers, many of whom are not able to purchase expensive publications on those subjects.

Every day when you leave your home you give away more than you could ever imagine about who you are and what you do.

Brunch is boring, but that's part of the charm of it.

Money is the best deodorant.

Science arose from poetry... when times change the two can meet again on a higher level as friends.

Let me encourage you to get up every day and focus on what you do have in life. Be thankful for the blessings of the little things, even when you don't get what you expect.

Money is the excellent slave and a horrible master.

My fastest time in high school was a 4:29 mile. I think cross-country has something to do with my longevity in my business. When you're in an eight-mile race, you never give up.

There's nothing wrong with shooting for the stars.