“Growing up my mother played Sarah Vaughan and Nat Cole in the house regularly.”

I was very surprised when I heard that I had been chosen to receive the James Cardinal Gibbons Award.

If you want something to play with go find yourself a toy, baby, my time is too expensive and I’m not a little boy.

If you are serious, don’t play with my heart, it makes me furious.

I always loved Sam Cooke, because he seemed very versatile. He sang gospel, soul, blues, pop music

I feel it was just a few years ago I was running around in short pants

My friends and I were wild and we liked to joy-ride.

I’ve been in some beautiful places, but the prettiest sight is flying back to New Orleans. Being able to look down and say, ‘I know where I am now.’

I don’t know much, but I know I love you… that may be all there is to know.

So I went in front of the judge, and I had my St. Jude prayer book in my pocket and my St. Jude medal. And I’m standing there and that judge said I was found guilty, so he sentenced me to what the law prescribed: one to 14 years.

It’s a thanksgiving to God. It’s something I have wanted to do for a long time, but the record company wasn’t ready for it. So I did it myself.

I sing around the house, in the shower

When you were a kid, a day was a long time and a year was a long time

Sometimes I sing along in the car, if something good is playing like Marvin Gaye.

Don’t be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide.

I really like listening to music in my car.

It’s a 360-degree sound experience. Like you’re in the middle of the band. A lot of people have the technology to play the format, so why not put it out there. It sounds great.