---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross…"
description: "\"I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke.\" — Charles Bradley"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/charles-bradley-11196_always_i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-ar_508143.jpg"
---

#  I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin…

![“I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke.” quote by Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/charles-bradley-11196_always_i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-ar_508143.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/charles-bradley-11196_always_i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-ar_508143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/charles-bradley-11196_always_i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-ar_508143.jpg)

> “I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke.”

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He expresses deep admiration for iconic soul and R&amp;B artists, highlighting their influence on his own music.

**In simple terms:** He loves famous soul singers.

Key Takeaway

Embrace influences that shape your art.

Themes

music influence heritage

Mood

reflective appreciative

Type

musical cultural

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- performing
- music education
- cultural appreciation

Key Concepts

soul R&amp;B artistic inspiration

Questions to Reflect On

- Which artists inspire you most?
- How do you make their influence your own?

A Different Perspective

He may overlook his own originality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [James Brown died owing me $50,000. But I loved James Brown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/james-brown-died-owing-me-50-000-but-i-loved-james-brown/)

[Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/)

> [With the '60s era and Motown, my grandparents actually introduced us to that when I was younger, so I grew up listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/with-the-60s-era-and-motown-my-grandparents-actually-introduced-us-to/)

[Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/)

> [Audrey was a princess, so natural, the camera really loved her... James and I kept each other company during all the rejections. We used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/audrey-was-a-princess-so-natural-the-camera-really-loved-her-james/)

[Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/)

> [My dad was into jazz, so there was a lot of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington playing in the house, but also a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/my-dad-was-into-jazz-so-there-was-a-lot-of-thelonious-monk-and-duke/)

[Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/)

> [I'll never forget that little apple box I stood on because I couldn't reach the microphone. My name was written on it and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ll-never-forget-that-little-apple-box-i-stood-on-because-i-couldn-t/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [I'd like to go for people I admire - I always gravitate towards the people I idolized when I was a teenager: Cher, Diana…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/i-d-like-to-go-for-people-i-admire-i-always-gravitate-towards-the/)

[RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/)

> [I would love to do a biopic of a famous singer, like Diana Ross or Donna Summer, or an old jazz story that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraji-p-henson/i-would-love-to-do-a-biopic-of-a-famous-singer-like-diana-ross-or/)

[Taraji P. Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraji-p-henson/)

> [My earliest influence was Quincy Jones. I thought 'The Wiz' soundtrack was the most amazing thing I'd ever heard. It was my first record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/my-earliest-influence-was-quincy-jones-i-thought-the-wiz-soundtrack/)

[Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/)

> [The main thing I like to do is have a mix of the '70s glamour and emulate a lot of ladies I love, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/the-main-thing-i-like-to-do-is-have-a-mix-of-the-70s-glamour-and/)

[Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/)

> [I'm extremely blessed to have the extraordinary mother that I have, and I don't mean Diana Ross, I mean the mother. My mom paved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/i-m-extremely-blessed-to-have-the-extraordinary-mother-that-i-have/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

> [Who's more important than Diana Ross?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/who-s-more-important-than-diana-ross/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [My mom was the Diana Ross of our clan. She was always up-to-date, and always knew what to do and what not to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/my-mom-was-the-diana-ross-of-our-clan-she-was-always-up-to-date-and/)

[Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/)

> [I just don't like the idea of her singing my songs. Who the hell does she thinks she is? The world doesn't need another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-just-don-t-like-the-idea-of-her-singing-my-songs-who-the-hell-does/)

[Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/)

> [Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Jackson 5, that's what I grew up on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/stevie-wonder-and-diana-ross-and-the-jackson-5-that-s-what-i-grew-up/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [You can always tell where Diana Ross has been by the hair that's left behind!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-ross/you-can-always-tell-where-diana-ross-has-been-by-the-hair-that-s-left/)

[Diana Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-ross/)

## More by Charles Bradley

> [I never knew about racial segregation until Martin Luther King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-never-knew-about-racial-segregation-until-martin-luther-king/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [A real good artist learns to be a better person through all the changes they've been through. They keep their loving and honesty growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/a-real-good-artist-learns-to-be-a-better-person-through-all-the/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [I was learning 'Changes' at the time that my mom was sick and she was leaving me. And those last verses in that song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-was-learning-changes-at-the-time-that-my-mom-was-sick-and-she-was/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [If you want to give a show, make it real, and people will listen to you more carefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/if-you-want-to-give-a-show-make-it-real-and-people-will-listen-to-you/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [I did a CD way back in 1989, but I never got it off the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-did-a-cd-way-back-in-1989-but-i-never-got-it-off-the-ground/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [We've got to learn how to not look at creed or color. Look at how beautiful a bouquet of roses looks like - different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/we-ve-got-to-learn-how-to-not-look-at-creed-or-color-look-at-how/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [I'm trying to find a home that I can come home to, and there's no stress or pressure to be scared to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-m-trying-to-find-a-home-that-i-can-come-home-to-and-there-s-no/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [James Brown really taught me a lot - his lyrics and his performance and whatever he does when he's onstage. I'll always call him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/james-brown-really-taught-me-a-lot-his-lyrics-and-his-performance-and/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [I lived in the streets for three years when I was a kid, and every day, I didn't know where my next meal would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-lived-in-the-streets-for-three-years-when-i-was-a-kid-and-every-day/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [My grandmother always told me that regardless of what the world gives you, stay humble. Stay strong in your beliefs, and be honest. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/my-grandmother-always-told-me-that-regardless-of-what-the-world-gives/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [Peforming as James Brown, I didn't really have to go deep in my soul the way I do as Charles Bradley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/peforming-as-james-brown-i-didn-t-really-have-to-go-deep-in-my-soul/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [I'm 63 now, and I need to take care of myself so that I can continue to perform at my best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-m-63-now-and-i-need-to-take-care-of-myself-so-that-i-can-continue/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [I've always been a person who wanted to withdraw from the world, because the changes I've been through, I just don't want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-ve-always-been-a-person-who-wanted-to-withdraw-from-the-world/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [Just know that all the pain that I've been through, it made me strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/just-know-that-all-the-pain-that-i-ve-been-through-it-made-me-strong/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [If we don't change this world and look inside our differences inside of us, we gonna bring this world back to a hard point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/if-we-don-t-change-this-world-and-look-inside-our-differences-inside/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

[Explore all 61 Charles Bradley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

Browse all 36,048 Always quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Bradley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-aretha-franklin-sam-cooke/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-aretha-franklin-sam-cooke/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/charles-bradley-11196_always_i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-ar_508143.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/charles-bradley-11196_always_i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-ar_508143.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/charles-bradley-11196_always_i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-ar_508143.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke.” — Charles Bradley",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles Bradley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I always loved James Brown, Diana...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-aretha-franklin-sam-cooke/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-always-loved-james-brown-diana-ross-aretha-franklin-sam-cooke/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
