No one else in our family was a professional musician so this took an enormous leap of faith on their part.

Once you're in a particular country and you're surrounded by musicians who are so adept at traditional music you suddenly realize how much there is to explore and digest and learn and experience.

I have such happy memories of performing in a choir and I don't think I'd have got where I am today without all that experience. So my advice to young singers is to either join your school or church's choir or find one in your local area. Choral music at any level teaches you so much about musicianship and blending your voice.

I sought my father in the world of the black musician because it contained wisdom experience sadness and loneliness. I was not ever interested in the music of boys. From my youngest years I was interested in the music of men.

Historically musicians know what it is like to be outside the norm - walking the high wire without a safety net. Our experience is not so different from those who march to the beat of different drummers.

Session musicians kind of respected me because what I was talking about made sense. That all came from an education. Believe me education does you more good. Maybe that's the reason I've been around so long.

When I was a young musician the only option available to pursue secondary education in music was to attend a classical conservatory.

My training as an engineer has enabled me to design the stuff but the reason I do it is not to make music but for the opportunity to work with musicians.

Some musicians I know are incredible fathers. Like Keith Richards. A fantastic dad.

My dad was a musician. He was a singer and he played the guitar so music was always around.