Music is my life, professionally, for nearly 60 years. To be recognized by the academy is still the highest honor. – Ray Charles
I did it to myself. It wasnt society… it wasnt a pusher, it wasnt being blind or being black or being poor. It was all my doing. – Ray Charles
Musics been around a long time, and theres going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind. If its a big record, thats the frosting on the cake, but musics the main meal. – Ray Charles
My music had roots which Id dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil. – Ray Charles
Nevertheless the passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of causing disgust and music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music. – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart