My music had roots which Id dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil. – Ray Charles
I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me-like food or water. – Ray Charles
Music is my life, professionally, for nearly 60 years. To be recognized by the academy is still the highest honor. – Ray Charles
Ive never had a very quiet voice. I tried in choir to make it smaller, and it just didnt work out. And I listened to a lot of soul music when I was growing up on my own accord. But I was mostly into Mama Cass and Gladys Knight, and they all had big voices too just different than mine. – Beth Ditto