Boy Quote by Merry Clayton

None of the jazz greats made music for the purpose of you going to check out music before them. Michael Jackson didn't make music…

— Robert Glasper

I listened to the radio, so I was influenced by everyone from Michael Jackson to Milli Vanilli. But thankfully my dad had a collection…

— Jason Mraz

I always loved Sam Cooke, because he seemed very versatile. He sang gospel, soul, blues, pop music

— Aaron Neville

Sam Cooke had a huge influence on me. He left the gospel field at one point and went into the secular, and he had…

— Aretha Franklin

My dad sung and played piano. But he was also a man of God. He was a minister. So when Sam Cooke would come…

— Merry Clayton

I drew a lot of inspiration from the Ginuwines, the Ushers, the Michael Jacksons, the James Browns, Sam Cooke.

— Chris Brown

I would have to say Sam Cooke is the one I admired most. His artistry and vocal, just the way he did it.

— Leon Russell

Michael Jackson was my inspiration. Love and blessings.

— Miley Cyrus

I get a lot of my inspiration from the Jackson 5 and Luther Vandross.

— Jordan Fisher

My father was very interested in music, and when he and his brothers were young, they had a singing group that used to open…

— Carrie Mae Weems

Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who admired Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin.

— Tracy Chapman

The singer who really opened the door for me was Sarah Vaughan. But I listen to so much music, especially when I was growing…

— Dianne Reeves