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Even before coming into the industry, I was a big fan of Motown, the Jackson 5, Gladys Knight, the Temptations, Diana Ross and The Supremes.

I grew up when the whole Motown thing was huge. The charts in those days were dominated by groups more than solo artists at one point.

I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music.

I love Motown, that whole era. Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson. I just put on Pandora, and put it on Motown, and it makes me smile; makes me smile so much.

I grew up in Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, and my mom and pop had an extensive record collection, so Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder and all of those sounds and souls of Motown filled the house.

I left Motown because of the regime of people who were there.

Motown was about music for all people - white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone.

I had the great opportunity to work with some of the greatest artists - the Beach Boys, the Temptations, the Four Tops. Otis Redding. Wilson Pickett. Stevie Wonder. So many great singers. And don't forget Clarence Carter!

I listened to a lot of Marvin Gaye and Motown records.

I honed in on a great time, the Motown era, the '60s and '70s. That type of music has always been a staple in my life.