One thing I can say about the Motown acts is that we were a family. That's not a myth.
You know what, I'm probably one of the most blessed people there's ever been, and I thank God for it.
I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music.
So I wanted to sing inspirational music, and that's exactly how I approached it - only the words have been changed to declare my relationship with God.
Drugs are in every walk of life - doctors, lawyers, preachers, the guy who works for IBM, teenagers on the street, teenagers in school.
Motown will always be a heavy-duty part of my life because those are my roots.
People still look at Michael Jackson as being a Motown artist.
In fact, I wouldn't really call this a Gospel album, I call it more an inspirational album.
The only thing you're taking out of here is your spirit and your soul, so we need to be conscious to try and develop that part of ourselves, because we're all spiritual creatures.
As human beings, we're very materialistic and have all this stuff - furs and cars and diamonds and money.
When you write a song, a song has longevity.
Had I not come out with an inspirational CD, you perhaps would have never known that I feel like I feel, that all songs, all the music I've ever done is a gift from God.
That's because we did not set out to make black music. We set out to make quality music that everyone could enjoy and listen to.
I've been speaking at churches for years, as well as juvenile jails, rehabs and hospitals, and I always talk about my faith. That is a declaration of my relationship with God.
I really haven't strayed too far, musically, from my roots.
And I can say this, most of the people who have recorded my songs are songwriters themselves.
When someone picks up one of my songs and records it, I'm a flattered man, it's a blessing to me.
I played golf all over Detroit.
Songwriting is my gift from God.
Once you're a Motown artist, that's your stigmatism, and I was there from the very first day.
