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Hearing the blues changed my life.

I would think, to me, growing up in the south, growing up with all the gospel music, singing in the church and having that rhythm and blues - the blues background was my big inspiration.

It took me way beyond what I knew, into places of which I was totally scared, but as I became less frightened, I welcomed new ways of thinking and approaching something. It made me an infinitely richer person, and I think a better musician.

The blues are what I've turned to, what has given me inspiration and relief in all the trials of my life.

Great classic music that I've been turned on to has not only inspired and influenced me, but it has had an effect on my songwriting.

In the midst of hardship, it was the music that restored my soul.

It was writing about music for NPR - connecting with music fans and experiencing a sense of community - that made me want to write songs again. I began to feel I was in my head too much about music, too analytical.

I always wanted my music to influence the life you were living emotionally - with your family, your lover, your wife, and, at a certain point, with your children.

Setting my mind on a musical instrument was like falling in love. All the world seemed bright and changed.

Music had been my first love among the arts, and I was fascinated by it, as I still am.