I keep my spirit clean so that when I sing, I sing completely from the heart. It's why I lived my life staying away from the bigger negatives than the rugged life I lead.

[observation, 2013] Even now, every day, I go through my trials and tribulations. It's still not easy. When I get up from my bed and walk through the streets and the subway, through everyday life, and I look at people's faces, that's how I get myself through another day. What I'm doing is reaching inside of me and finding the best of me I can give to humanity and to the world.

Love. You can't touch it, you see it, you wanna grab it, you wanna hold it, but you have to share it with the rest of the world.

I'm just trying to give you guys the best of my soul. That's all I'm about. Maybe that's the mission God gave me. If I can't help you, I ain't gonna hurt you.

I was on the edge. I was truly on the edge. I thought nothing was going to happen, so I said 'God, what's left for me to do?' At that point I was 61, and I had been honest and humble and giving all my life. But I thought the world wasn't going to give me a chance.

[on reacting to unprovoked violence he has endured] I wanted to get a gun, go out on the streets like a mad person. But when I came home I started praying. When I was on my knees, I actually heard a spirit in myself say, 'Who are you not to suffer? Pick up your cross and follow me. Forgive them.' That was the biggest experience of my life.

[on the release of 'No Time for Dreaming' his debut soul album] When I heard it, you can ask anybody, I broke down crying. I broke down. I walked out of the room and I left. I let my mom hear it, and then I saw my mother cry. My brother, my sister, they all can't believe I did it.