Allen Toussaint Quotes

There's a gratification that comes from performing in front of a live audience, and you can't replicate that with anything else. In the studio, the creation part of this business is fun. But, when you see the fans letting you know that they enjoy what you're doing, that's why I keep doing what I do.

I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.

I do a lot of performing, but don't get a chance to go to the studio and write good music.

I have been taking voice and singing lessons since age 10 and originally got into it because I was really interested in musical theater. After writing my first couple of songs and performing at age 14, I knew that I really wanted to be a singer.

It would be a dream come true if I could just go from studio to studio and play solos.

I definitely enjoy performing on stage with The Roots.

When I started out in this business, I was a performer before I was a songwriter, I was a performer before I was recording. Performing is the roots. That's where it all came from. You didn't start out doing it because you wanted to make an album.

It's always been my dream to be on the stage with my band, singing my music. That's always been, and always will be.

I think on a stage in front of thousands of people is a wildly invigorating and amazing experience, and it requires a certain skill set; then being in the studio, and being curled up in the fetal position under the piano, that requires another skill set.

I feel that it's nothing if not an incredible privilege to be able to get up on stage and play for people, and I don't ever take it for granted.

I think there's an attitude these days that you can go straight from a studio to the stage, and it isn't really like that. But playing live was the most important thing for me at the start because whenever I recorded something, it didn't sound right; I didn't like how my voice sounded. It was just raw.

For one, the whole concept of 'Live From Here' - writing a song every week - was like composition bootcamp.

I just do what I gotta do and try to show people I can write some funny lyrics and play piano, and hopefully that'll make them dig further. I really believe in my form. That's why I haven't done a lot of telly, and I'm not a regular on any panel shows, and I'm not in a sitcom or all those things.

It's always important for us to record, so if we're not performing live, that's what we're doing.

We are musicians, entertainers. We can do it. We have the right tools. No worries.

Performing was the natural thing originally and the rest of it [records and so on] is just like offshoots of that. That's how I see it anyway.

I just love being on stage and I love making music, and as far as - it's great for narcissism, because you have all those people screaming out your name.

Back when I was in high school, I came out onstage with my guitar and had four guys playing behind me. We were just playing a dance, but I was standing in front of an audience rocking out. I'm still rocking out like when I was a kid. I haven't changed.

Performing is one of the best feelings I know!

Nothing beats performing live. For me, there's nothing better.

I like entertaining people. I like being on stage. I like being in the life. This is what I do. This is the only thing I know how to do besides rob people and fight. Even when I was robbing people, I was entertaining them. But that's just what I love doing.

My live performance, it just comes from feeling an energy and emotion from the crowd. Just going out there and doing my own stuff and being in front of my own people. I love it.

I've been playing live gigs since I was 13. I really don't know how to do anything else, and please God strike me down.

The performing part of it, that's what I live for. I've always told people that's what I was born for. I believe, with the proper things around me, and everything I need as a performer; band, and all that kind of stuff, I still feel to this day there's no one that can touch me. Still.

I am a musician and am so thankful for that. I have no experience of war. But I find a similarity between performing music onstage and acting - a reality of emotion.