Ray Charles

I’m not a jazz singer, blues singer or country singer. I’m a singer that can sing rhythm & blues, that can sing jazz, that can sing country. There’s a big difference. In other words, I’m not a specialist.

Ray Charles

If you can play the blues, you can do anything.

Ray Charles

Just like you can buy grades of silk, you can buy grades of justice.

Ray Charles

Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.

Ray Charles

Music is my life, professionally, for nearly 60 years. To be recognized by the academy is still the highest honor.

Ray Charles

Music is powerful. As people listen to it, they can be affected. They respond.

Ray Charles

My mom taught me a lot. A lot about minding your own business and leaving other people’s business alone. And let them think what they want.

Ray Charles

My music had roots which I’d dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil.

Ray Charles

Nowadays they say you need a special chip to put in the TV so kids can’t watch this and that. In my day, we didn’t need a chip. My mom was the chip. End of story.

Ray Charles

Sighted people, you gotta deal with them.

Ray Charles