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I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.

It's a spirit that was given me and the relationships and meeting all these great people, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong; through Max I met a lot of people too. My first album was with Benny Carter.

Any band on their first couple records is just trying to keep up with their inspiration.

I actually am always a music first person.

The biggest difference between me and other artists out there is that they'll put anything out to sell a record or sell a ticket.

I'm a songwriter first.

My first album is a lot of my personal experiences. I wanted people to relate to what I've been through.

My audience are the same people who bought my albums years ago. These people are now married, with their own homes, their own families. If I'm in concert, I get people now who bring their kids.

It's like whether you're in a huge movie or you've just recorded an incredible album you've got to do the next thing, and that's part of being an artist.

If you date a musician, you're never, ever really gonna be first either. You're gonna be right behind the music and maybe right close.