Al Jarreau Quotes

I'll never quit playing country music, or at least acknowledging it, always, as the cornerstone of what I am.

My voice is a combination of how I grew up and what I was listening to growing up. I like a lot of different kinds of music and am always being inspired in different ways by different artists for different reasons.

I didn't want to go out and change anything. I just wanted to make the music that was part of my background, which was rock and blues and hip-hop.

I really haven't strayed too far, musically, from my roots.

My first memories of music were country music and Ronnie Milsap. Where I grew up, it was what you listened to. And anything else, you were somewhat out of place.

I've gotta stick to my roots, and my roots are blues.

'Doo-wop' is a very special word for me. Because I grew up listening to my dad who, as a Fifties rock & roll head, loved doo-wop music.

I grew up in a musical family, but nobody was a professional musician.

I grew up listening to a lot of soul music, which has probably informed the way that I sing on my tracks.

I love music; I come from a region of Kurdistan that is a base for music.

I feel that for years of teaching in the country and reading criticism in books, I feel like the things most needed in our culture are the understanding of the meanings of our music. We haven't done that good of job teaching our kids what our music means or how we developed our taste in music that reminds us and teaches us who we are.

I was born out of classical music.

My African heritage is a part of reggae music roots, and the concept is that the album, 'Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life' is a tribute to roots reggae music. The fruit is what blossoms into different colors and shades, but the root has to stand predominant.

I had a very thorough grounding in music; I'd grown up around songs. My parents listened to a lot of music. My dad was majorly into jazz, which was absolutely a big influence on me, even if it was more subconsciously as a kid.

Falling in Place was meant to be very much rooted in a place and time, and music was a part of that.

I've got Arabic music in my blood.

You must remember I grew up around music. Three of my family were musicians.

Maybe I'm genetically more inclined to music - but the music I make is so far removed from Indian classical music. I grew up in Texas!

When I was a kid, I remember trying to emulate Stevie Wonder's sound, and Donny Hathaway's sound. It's just part of who I am - I'm just a soulful kind of dude.

I grew up with music definitely.

It's been in my musical DNA since I was a little kid. I think musical theatre has really influenced everything I've done.

I never left doo wop.

I have been influenced by music. I grew up listening to blues, jazz and all.

My music comes from my personal background.

Dad had a way of defining himself. He couldn't put his finger on whether it was rock 'n' roll or country.