Kevin Eubanks Quotes

James Brown really taught me a lot - his lyrics and his performance and whatever he does when he's onstage. I'll always call him a legend, and I'll always respect what he did.

I was a James Brown junkie as a kid.

You want a hero in the music world? James Brown. He brought a feeling to music without really using words. He's just famous for his sound.

I think what makes his story unique from others is there is not really one piece of American pop music you hear today that does not have some James Brown in it.

Everybody tell me everywhere I go that I'm the closest thing to James Brown they ever seen.

James Brown was my favorite, my absolute idol. Every time I played with him was like a music lesson, and I never thought I could be so funky! I mean, a white boy from Canada - a Jew - getting down with his funky bad self!

You can't hate James Brown! Who hates James Brown?

I love James Brown, and as a baby, I was always dancing to James Brown.

Dilla was a John Coltrane-type dude. He was always on a higher level. He inspired my music to become looser and more soulful.

It's like there's the rest of the world, and then there's America. Part of the reason I would really love continue to making music over here because so much of American music has inspired me, whether it's Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen.

I don't talk about Amy Winehouse as a 'singer.' She's a pioneer. I listened to her endlessly when I started writing.

Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield, those are the people who informed me in playing the bass.

I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened to everything I could that came from that place that they call the blues but, in formality, isn't necessarily the blues.

Bowie's been a huge influence on me.

I love Sly Stone and James Brown and Stevie Wonder, and I want my music to reflect some of that.

My greatest influence is Jimi Hendrix, and if he's been reincarnated, or if he's looking down, sideways, or looking up, I just wanted to tell him that I love him and thank him for opening doors for me. I just wanted to make it beautiful for him.

My father had slowed down playing a little... I was 'round 10 or 12 years old. Every time he put his guitar down, I pick it up.

R Stevie Moore was obviously a huge influence and is still a very big influence in my life.

The artist who gave me the most inspiration and direction, especially as a singer - and I absolutely consider myself a singer, 100 percent - is Nina Simone. She's my ultimate pianist-singer-type person.

That's who I wanted to be like was Bob Dylan.

My mom was a big fan of Al Green... James Brown we weren't allowed to listen to, so of course I knew James Brown.

Prince is from the school of James Brown, and I love James Brown because of all the great rhythms he plays.

James Brown was the Monday-to-Friday guy. He was the hardest man in show business. He was like your dad and your uncle: He showed up, and he hit hard.

I was reading an article about Kings of Leon's bass player, who said that he was directly influenced by Joy Division and by me. I was like, 'Woah!' It surprised me. It's a great compliment.

James Brown's music still sounds as fresh and as good and as new as it did when he first created it.