Of course, the kids who had never heard of a person called Ben E. King were then aware of the name associated with the song. That gave a tremendous lift to me as an artist.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn't sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste.
I remember hearing Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Big Bill Broonzy, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley and not really knowing anything about the geography or the culture of the music. But for some reason it did something to me - it resonated.
The only thing I have ever really cared to be known as is a musician.
To be honest, I grew up with Alan Menken's music.
Artists take on an alias that's suitable for their style of music. Everyone had a nickname when they were younger.
Everyone felt like they knew Ray Charles and in a way they did, because he was embodied by his music.
I never saw myself as a singer; I never really thought I had the voice for it.
Absolutely, I grew up listening to soul music. People like Stevie, Aretha, Ray Charles, Michael and Prince. My parents' record collection was all I had when I was a little kid. If it wasn't that, it was something else in their collection.
They all knew my name, but no one heard the music - I didn't look the same.
I knew I didn't have the right name for a singer. Having a name that nobody could pronounce was hardly an asset.