Everyone felt like they knew Ray Charles and in a way they did, because he was embodied by his music.

When I first heard Ray Charles, he was a flop artist on a small label in California. He hadn't sold any records. And I bought his contract for $2,500.

I love Ray Charles. He can still teach everybody a lot about how to make great music. Not necessarily how to make hits, but how to make great music. Of course, part of it is his incredible talent. Who are the greatest jazz singers in the world? Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles.

Ray Charles, in his own way, it's like at the beginning, Ray Charles changed American music, not once but twice.

The first piece of music that captured my imagination was probably Ray Charles Live At Newport.

I met Ray Charles at 14, and he was 16. But he was like a hundred years older than me.