Ray charles

The fact of the matter is, you don't give up what's natural. Anything I've fantasized about, I've done.

Affluence separates people. Poverty knits 'em together. You got some sugar and I don't; I borrow some of yours. Next month you might not have any flour; well, I'll give you some of mine.

I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.

I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't been able to hear.

Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.

My version of 'Georgia' became the state song of Georgia. That was a big thing for me, man. It really touched me. Here is a state that used to lynch people like me suddenly declaring my version of a...

I did it to myself. It wasn't society... it wasn't a pusher, it wasn't being blind or being black or being poor. It was all my doing.

Love is a special word, and I use it only when I mean it. You say the word too much and it becomes cheap.

Music is my life, professionally, for nearly 60 years. To be recognized by the academy is still the highest honor.

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.