I can write a song about my hero Che Guevara and call it 'Song for Che.'

I want to take people away from the ugliness and sadness around us every day and bring beautiful, deep music to as many people as I can.

I just try to play music from my heart and bring as much beauty as I can to as many people as I can. Just give them other alternatives, especially people who aren't exposed to creative music.

I just see myself as a human being that's concerned about life.

I wish I could've been friends with Charlie Parker and played with him. That's my period. I feel real close to the '40s - and actually, I was born in '37, so I was a kid singing on the radio in the '40s. But I always dreamed of going to big cities.

We're here to bring beauty to the world and make a difference in this planet. That's what art forms are about.