I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great. Ray Charles on famous
I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me-like food or water. Ray Charles on food
Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory. Ray Charles on learning
I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me-like food or water. Ray Charles on music
My music had roots which I'd dug up from my own childhood, musical roots buried in the darkest soil. Ray Charles on music
Music's been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind. If it's a big record, that's the frosting on the cake, but music's the main meal. Ray Charles on music
What makes my approach special is that I do different things. I do jazz, blues, country music and so forth. I do them all, like a good utility man. Ray Charles on music
Music is my life, professionally, for nearly 60 years. To be recognized by the academy is still the highest honor. Ray Charles on music
I did it to myself. It wasn't society... it wasn't a pusher, it wasn't being blind or being black or being poor. It was all my doing. Ray Charles on society