Miles Davis turned his back to the audience when he came out on stage, and he offended people. But, he wasn't there to entertain; he was all about the music. I kind of do that.
Well, I started conducting kind of by accident. I wanted to give myself a special birthday present for my fortieth birthday, and I was living in San Francisco at the time and I started attending some of the concerts and then simply dropping hints.
I prepared five songs, I sang them, and he hired me. I started working about a month later at the piano bar.
The true musician is to bring light into people's hearts.
My father was a very disciplined singer who worked hard at his craft, and I was around that growing up.
I like to use the audience as my color palette, my instrument.
When I'm on stage by myself, I don't have to think about anything. I don't have to worry about anything because I'm not responsible for anything except just opening my mouth and making sure music comes out.
Then I left that school and I went to Cerritos College, which was in southern California; they had one of the best big band programs in the country at the time.
I grew up in a time when being a musician and learning to be a musician was actually very wonderful.
It's not that I don't love the song. My songs are like my children: some you want around and some you want to send off to college as soon as possible.
My biggest musical influences are probably my parents.
I don't want anything to get in the way of me and my singing. I want my mind as clear as possible.
I like a very dark house, just black. I sit there and just think. Once I'm still and quiet inside, I'll begin. It's very personal; it has to be. One song may be Bach, the next blues, a song from TV, or a nursery rhyme or jazz piece.
I want to write a book of poetry, as well as children's stories.
I have a lot of albums yet to do.
But, if there's any aspect of my career that needs attention, it's writing.
I do a lot of performing, but don't get a chance to go to the studio and write good music.
Seriously though, my father was the first African American to sign a contract with the Metropolitan Opera so I grew up with classical music and jazz in the home all the time.
I played piano as a kid; I still play a little bit.
Then when I was in grammar school I played the clarinet, and then, after clarinet I played the flute in college orchestra - besides singing in the college chorus and things like that.
