Dianne Reeves Quotes

Marvin Gaye is an inspiration to me. He was one of the first Motown musicians that my mom and dad introduced me to, and I always thought it would be a good idea if I was ever an artist, and now I am, to make a record called 'Marvin Gaye.'

Growing up, I had an insane crush on Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys.

I'm a big fan of pop music - I think Marvin Gaye was pop music; things like that.

Smokey Robinson is one of my heroes as a singer and songwriter; a major influence on my own music from the very start.

Full disclosure here - I had a terrible crush on Smokey Robinson, like every other female on the planet.

Madonna was my favorite when I was a little kid.

Nobody has communicated with the public more than Lady Gaga. Ever. I trust the audience, and I'm very impressed. As far as they're concerned, she's part of their family. The only guy who ever did that was Bing Crosby, years ago.

Growing up, I was surrounded by music by the Stones, Carole King, and the Beach Boys. I didn't know who Michael Jackson was till I was about 13.

Beyonce's the only contemporary artist that I really, really idolize.

I would actually like to play Bobby Brown. To me, he was just the King of R&B at one point.

I think I'd be pretty star struck over John Mayer. I'm a big fan of his music, and I think he's great.

Whatever had been on the radio in the '60s; I mean we were always listening to the radio.

I was nuts about Elvis, like every girl in America.

Kylie Minogue is the greatest thing that has happened to Australian music.

I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music.

Listen - and I don't care who knows it - I'm a Belieber!

Frank Ocean is our modern-day Marvin Gaye. In our house, we have nothing but respect for him.

I knelt at the altar of Ray Charles for years. I worked at a restaurant, and that's all there was on the jukebox.

I grew up when the whole Motown thing was huge. The charts in those days were dominated by groups more than solo artists at one point.

I grew up listening to pop; I grew up listening to '60s pop music, the Beatles, the Monkees, Herman's Hermits and all that stuff. So I had a very strong background of listening to great pop music.

Back in the day, Motown was on the pulse of young America. It wasn't about just dope contemporary. It was pop, it was R&B, it was all of that.

'As' by Stevie Wonder - it's the greatest song ever written, bro.

My parents' record collection was the music I was hearing as long as I can remember, and I would play Otis Redding over and over again.

I grew up with Ray Charles playing in the car all the time or playing in the house.

I would have to say Sam Cooke is the one I admired most. His artistry and vocal, just the way he did it.