As Branford Marsalis said in a beautiful essay he write upon Clarence's death, C was blessed with 'the power of musical intent.

This music is forever for me. It's the stage thing, that rush moment that you live for. It never lasts, but that's what you live for.

I didn't know if it would be a success-ful one, or what the stages would be, but I always saw myself as a lifetime musician and songwriter.

I think you have a limited amount of impact as an entertainer, performer, or musician.

It was just playing music. I didn't have any intention for it. I knew that I enjoyed making this kind of music. ... It was really just purely for the joy of doing it. It was a lot of fun.

Music was my way of keeping people from looking through and around me. I wanted the heavies to know I was around.