Quotes Ray Charles

``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.'' -- (Los Angeles Times, 1986)

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``I never considered myself part of rock 'n' roll. My stuff was more adult. It was more difficult for teenagers to relate to; my stuff was filled with more despair than anything you'd associate with rock 'n' roll. Since I couldn't see people dancing, I didn't write jitterbugs or twists. I wrote rhythms that moved me. My style requires pure heart singing.'' -- From his 1978 autobiography ``Brother Ray.''

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``When I started to sing like myself -- as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while -- when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it.'' -- (San Jose Mercury News, 1994)

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``Do it right or don't do it at all. That comes from my mom. If there's something I want to do, I'm one of those people that won't be satisfied until I get it done. If I'm trying to sing something and I can't get it, I'm going to keep at it until I get where I want it.'' Charles (Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale, 1998)

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``The fact of the matter is, you don't give up what's natural. Anything I've fantasized about, I've done.'' -- (Los Angeles Times, 1989)

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``Music's been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind. If it's a big record, that's the frosting on the cake, but music's the main meal.'' -- (The Washington Post, 1983)

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``You ask me what I'd like to do that I haven't done and I say 'Nothin'!' I haven't any mountains to climb or oceans to swim. I've been an extremely blessed individual. ... I'm not clamorin' for more trinkets. If I were to die tomorrow, I could say I've had a good life.'' -- (Los Angeles Times, 1986)