Aretha Franklin

“John Legend is, in my opinion, classic. He is one of the best finds that has come along in a long time.”

“I remember singing around the house to records that were playing. All kinds of music. And the great James Cleveland was often in our house, and I grew up with his sound as well.”

“When I first started, I wore Ceil Chapman gowns. I've been wondering for years what happened to the Ceil Chapman line of clothing.”

“I had not been in the jazz environment, having been brought up in the church. But once I got to New York, and I was signed to perform at The Village Gate and the Vanguard and clubs like that...”

“My mentor was Clara Ward of the famous Ward gospel singers of Philadelphia. And my dad was my coach. He coached me. And just my natural love for music is what drove me.”

“Columbia was a wonderful label for me. Wonderful. The records I made there garnered me an audience. I won a number of polls during the years that I was at Columbia. The Downbeat Jazz Poll. L...”

“Intermittently in my concert format, I sing a little jazz, a little scatting.”

“We didn't have music videos. You weren't an overnight sensation. You had to work at it and learn your craft: how to take care of your voice, how to pace your concerts, all that trial and err...”

“I like writing and don't confine myself to just the words or just the music. But I don't particularly write songs with myself in mind.”

“As long as it's good music. I love all music. It's got to be constructed properly.”

“I've been around long enough for people to know who I am and what my contributions are. They know me as more than just an artist. I think they know me as a woman as well.”

“Sam Cooke had a huge influence on me. He left the gospel field at one point and went into the secular, and he had this huge hit, 'You Send Me.' Irma, my older sister, and I heard 'You Send M...”

“It's easy for a singer to sometimes pick up on another singer's sound, but that's just copying.”

“My generation, we came along, we had to really know our craft.”

“I don't do crazy things - I just don't.”

“I've probably cried with a lot of songs - in teenage crushes, adult crushes.”

“Well, Babyface brings his savoir faire to every project. He's a very easy producer to work with, very detailed in listening to everything.”

“I still have perfect diction!”

“I'm never tired of going to the studio. I enjoy recording and documenting everything and trying new things.”

“I go to the healthier foods that are less chemically treated. I am drinking lots of water to get rid of the toxins in my body. It's a natural flushing. Water flushes your system and is also...”