Artist Impact Quotes

When I was around 11, my dad took me to see Santana live, and then I got 'Sacred Fire,' and everything changed for me.

Ray Charles has always been a big part of my life.

Artists are taught to be humble about their impact, especially in folk music. It's so ingrained that I have a hard time even thinking I had any impact other than what a normal hit song would have.

Biggie is my favorite rapper, for sure. No other artist has impacted me that much.

With great artists like Elvis, sometimes the songs weren't the greatest thing about him. When I tried to perform some of the songs, I noticed some of the tunes weren't all that brilliant, but it was the performance that sold them.

Bruce Springsteen gave people faith in rock & roll and in themselves again.

Kid Cudi has saved lives. He saved my life.

Fans be reflecting the way I be making music.

You listen to Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio in it, and it's not Black Sabbath. They should have just called it 'Heaven and Hell' right from the beginning. Because you listen to that 'Heaven and Hell' album, that doesn't sound anything close to Black Sabbath.

Out of all the R&B artists that have come out, I think my name has been used most in hip-hop songs.

Every day somebody comes up to me and says, 'That song really helped me through a difficult time,' or 'That's me and my wife's song' or 'This song means something to me because of... ' It's humbling to hear that. You're something special in someone's life, even if it is for three minutes.

Artists like Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga have more sway over popular minds than a politician.

I listened to R. Kelly growing up.

No matter if you like it or not, you could hate Drake, he always says stuff that everybody can relate to. Facts.

How did George Bensen cut 'In Your Eyes?' How did I work with the Backstreet Boys? It all comes back to 'Sometimes When We Touch.'

One thing, parents: you need to realize is you've got to stop letting artists raise your kids. You're the parent. Why don't you monitor what your child wears? Ariana Grande didn't sign on to be a role model.

I owe Elvis my career, and the entire music business owes him it's lifeline.

When somebody like Elvis Costello comes along, anybody can make a good record with him.

I listened to Country music a little bit, but it didn't enter my life until I started listening to Eric Church.

It's crazy to see people having tattooed my lyrics on their body, and quite frankly writing is just an outlet for my voice and getting it out there.

I stopped listening to Dylan with both ears after Highway 64 (sic) and Blonde on Blonde, and even then it was because George (Harrison) would sit me down and make me listen.

The early Billy Joel stuff I fell in love with, like Glass Houses, is a real rock record.

People say Taylor Swift's not feminist enough or Beyonce's not feminist enough, but there are 12-year-old girls going to their shows and taking an awesome message.

Women come up to us all the time and give us the most amazing compliments, like, 'Salt-N-Pepa was the soundtrack of my life.' They remind us that we meant so much to them. Sometimes artists don't really grasp that. But when you talk to fans, you get in touch with your legacy.

When I die, so does hip hop.