I'm definitely inspired by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Lauryn Hill.
I was a huge Beatles fan. The Stones, Dylan. Later on, I got into Stevie Wonder, and Bill Withers - he's one of my heroes. Al Green, too.
I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke.
I've interviewed everyone from Joe Strummer to Iggy Pop.
The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Phil Spector. Those were my idols.
Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Jackson 5, that's what I grew up on.
By 27, Bob Dylan had already written 'Highway 61 Revisited,' the Beatles had released 'Rubber Soul,' Bruce Springsteen had recorded 'Born to Run' and U2 had delivered 'The Joshua Tree.'
I love Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and The Supremes, because I'm kind of old-school at heart.
Atlantic's Jerry Wexler believes first-rate records are made by first-rate voices. He certainly has worked with enough of them: Clyde McPhatter, Joe Turner, La Vern Baker, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin.
I grew up listening to the greats of the '80s and, thanks to my parents, the '70s - the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie.
I've done songs with legends like De La Soul with Pete Rock. I've done songs with B.O.B. I've done songs with Big Kit.
One of my first festivals was Oxygen 2006. It had this amazing lineup with the Arctic Monkeys on their first or second album, the Strokes, Kings of Leon, the Magic Numbers and then the Who and James Brown. I waited in the pit for a good eight hours to see James Brown.
There are so many great artists, I think, who kind of suffer from being icons, legends, acknowledged masters.
I come from the golden age of hip hop when all the greats came on the scene.
It would be great to have Bach in one corner, Bessie Smith in another, John Lennon in another. That's what I'd ideally like. A studio of the dead.
I would love to work with Eminem, Dr. Dre. I wish I could have been in the studio with Bob Marley.
A lot of the people I'd love to work with, like John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, aren't alive, unfortunately.
I love Sly Stone and James Brown and Stevie Wonder, and I want my music to reflect some of that.
I love Aretha Franklin, Edith Piaf, Blondie.
This Classic Rock 'n Blues Tour / Hippiefest roster promises a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the best, legendary artists of our lifetime. I can't wait to be a part of it.
I love Ashford & Simpson, and I love the Brothers Gibb. They are amazing.
I believe Dad will be respected in 300 years, like Beethoven. As will Elvis, as will the Carter Family, as will Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams.
Imagine the first time you are about to rap in a studio and you find yourself in a booth with Redman and KRS!
For me, I put Mac Dre right up there with Biggie and 'Pac as legends who have since passed on.
I also met, early on Ella Fitzgerald. Her songbooks are some of the most amazing bodies of work.
