Leo Kottke Quotes

I am going to keep on singing. I have no intention of retiring. Actually, I always wonder whether people know my songs in the different countries I visit. I feel nervous over whether they will sing along with me or not.

I didn't think I was a famous singer. I didn't think I was a star or that I could make the waters part - just that singing was what I was going to do.

It is one of the most validating things for an artist like me, to have people sing along to your songs.

And as long as people want to hear me sing, I don't know why I'd retire.

I feel like have a lot of music left to cut in my life.

I just want to make music as long as I can and reach as many people as I can.

I don't need to sell tons of records, but I want longevity. I want to make music for the rest of my life.

My aspirations aren't to sell millions of records, but to write really good songs.

Just like any songwriter, I love it when people sing my songs.

If I have an audience, I'd like to make music for my whole life. But it's not really up to me.

I have been blessed with some incredible compositions to record and perform and all of my songs have had the ability to grow as I and those who have supported this career of mine for these 50 years have.

When I play the first few notes of a song and people start screaming, I think: 'That's why I did this. That's why I wrote this song. That's a good job.' And it is a job.

I wrote 'Healthy Sick,' from our first LP, when I was 19. I'll happily play it till I'm 91 because it always feels good and truthful.

I am so lucky that I have been part of and written songs that will always resonate no matter how old they get.

The only way to have longevity is to have good songs.

I've got a talent, and people enjoy my songs, people love my songs; why stop?

Y'know, it's funny: I didn't think I'd be playing 'Hold The Line' at 60 years old. I was 19 when I first played that.

As a singer, the biggest joy I have are the arrangements.

I'm hoping to do more with my music. I did the stage musical 'Spring Awakening' recently and it reignited the love I have for singing.

I think it was 37 years that I did music.

I don't know if it's my music, my lyrics, my sound, and knowing the music business the way I do-all I can say is, my career has lasted way longer than I expected.

I come from the theater, where the response to your work is immediate, and I suppose there's a part of me that still craves that.

I love music and love a good audience and still have to make a living. Why would I quit?

I take my hat off to people like the Stones, but it's not for me. I couldn't do that. Jagger is brilliant and long may he rock. I couldn't make my career out of old songs; it would do my head in.

I never thought I'd be traveling the world supporting my music. Everybody seems to really enjoy the music because it comes from me, and I'm proud of it.