“Excellence isn’t an act, it’s a habit.”

I don’t remember feeling love.

Count Basie practically adopted me at 13. We became closer and closer and I ended up conducting for him and Sinatra.

I’m a great believer in letting lyrics just flow out, wherever they come from.

I started imagining this whole different world. It was a society of musicians, a family I hoped I could belong to one day.

I never felt like I had a mother.

Did you know you would become as successful as you have? Hell, no. But you know what? You were prepared, baby.

China’s got a billion people and a hit record over there is a million records. You know that ain’t right.

A song should have all the color and beauty of every rose.

My dream is to put together a performance of the evolution of black music with Cirque du Soleil . I would also like to do street opera and children’s books. But even as I work toward these things, I want to simplify my life.

My earliest memories are being pinned to a fence with a switchblade.

The process is the most beautiful part.

I found this out over the years, that racism is a thinly veiled disguise over economics and money. It really is.

It’s the attitude about life, man. Looking at the light instead of the dark. Looking at love instead of fear.

Young people should travel, and they don’t. You can’t know if you don’t go.

All guys get into music because they love music and they also want to get the girls.

My grandmother had this high-tech security system – a rusty nail she used to lock the door.

Choose to achieve perfection. We won’t achieve it because perfection is impossible. But by pursuing perfection, we will achieve excellence.

The same man cannot well be skilled in everything; each has his special excellence.

I’m a perfectionist, so my bossiness definitely comes out.

What is called a reason for living is also an excellent reason for dying.

People cannot become truly knowledgeable without being excellent readers.

Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

I know you won’t believe me, but the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others.