As human beings, we're very materialistic and have all this stuff - furs and cars and diamonds and money.

Songwriting is my gift from God.

There are very few courses around Detroit I haven't played.

You know what, life is full of temptations.

There's so many wonderful gospel people out there, and I don't necessarily want to compete with those people.

I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music.

We're very physical creatures, and we worry about how we look sometimes more than our spiritual selves.

Motown will always be a heavy-duty part of my life because those are my roots.

When you write a song, a song has longevity.

We're all going to be victims of temptation at several points in our lives.

I played golf all over Detroit.

I've been speaking at churches for years, as well as juvenile jails, rehabs and hospitals, and I always talk about my faith. That is a declaration of my relationship with God.

Drugs are in every walk of life - doctors, lawyers, preachers, the guy who works for IBM, teenagers on the street, teenagers in school.

The only thing you're taking out of here is your spirit and your soul, so we need to be conscious to try and develop that part of ourselves, because we're all spiritual creatures.

I always try to write a song, I never just want to write a record.

Once you're a Motown artist, that's your stigmatism, and I was there from the very first day.

I really haven't strayed too far, musically, from my roots.

I left Motown because of the regime of people who were there.

Originally I was not writing songs for myself.

Even if I don't release it myself, somebody else might hear it and want to record it. When you write a song, it gives it that potential.

As human beings, we're very materialistic and have all this stuff - furs and cars and diamonds and money.

My mother was a churchgoing lady, so I always heard about God at home.

Once you're a Motown artist, you're always a Motown artist.

And I can say this, most of the people who have recorded my songs are songwriters themselves.

That's because we did not set out to make black music. We set out to make quality music that everyone could enjoy and listen to.

People still look at Michael Jackson as being a Motown artist.

In fact, I wouldn't really call this a Gospel album, I call it more an inspirational album.

When someone picks up one of my songs and records it, I'm a flattered man, it's a blessing to me.

As a kid, this is what I wanted my life to be. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever dare to dream that it would be this.

You know what, I'm probably one of the most blessed people there's ever been, and I thank God for it.

One thing I can say about the Motown acts is that we were a family. That's not a myth.

Had I not come out with an inspirational CD, you perhaps would have never known that I feel like I feel, that all songs, all the music I've ever done is a gift from God.

So I wanted to sing inspirational music, and that's exactly how I approached it - only the words have been changed to declare my relationship with God.

I had been stockpiling Gospel songs for other artists, and had planned to submit them to Gospel artists.

A taste of honey is worse than none at all.

There's some sad things known to man, but ain't too much sadder than, the tears of a clown when no one's around.

As human beings, we're very materialistic and have all this stuff furs and cars and diamonds and money.

I also do not like the idea of soft money, these issue ads - people don't know where the money is coming from, millions and millions of dollars outside of the control of a candidate - there's no accountability.

Stories come from other shows at other studios where only 2,000 rounds were actually used and the money for the other 3,000 went right into the studio pockets. Corners were cut and that production suffered. Knock wood, that hasn't happened to us.

Never play anything that don't sound right. You might not make any money, but at least you won't get hostile with yourself.

Don't make music for some vast, unseen audience or market or ratings share or even for something as tangible as money. Though it's crucial to make a living, that shouldn't be your inspiration. Do it for yourself.

When I sent those scripts, that was the lowest point of my life. We'd just had our second son, and when I went to collect them from hospital, I went to the bank to try and get some money to buy some diapers, the screen showed I've got $26 left.

One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.

I would rather take the role and work and make my own money and self respect than to have sex with someone who has a lot of money.

People may take a job for more money, but they often leave it for more recognition.

I make no claim to being a business genius. You can make so much money in this business that it loses its value.

It costs a great deal of money to do a musical, and the more money involved, the more big business influences the artform.

The world over, give a guy money and it goes to drinking, gambling, and women. When you give a woman money, it goes to feeding, clothing, helping people.

Your team has to understand that coming into the ABA, you have to have your investments right and sponsorships and people ready to give you money so they can back you up.