--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Music's been around a long time, and…" description: "\"Music's been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/ray-charles-6406_cake_music-s-been-around-a-long-time-and-ther_1602867.jpg" --- # Music's been around a long time, and there's going to be… ![“Music's been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind. If it's a big record, that's the frosting on the cake, but music's the main meal.” quote by Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/ray-charles-6406_cake_music-s-been-around-a-long-time-and-ther_1602867.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/ray-charles-6406_cake_music-s-been-around-a-long-time-and-ther_1602867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/ray-charles-6406_cake_music-s-been-around-a-long-time-and-ther_1602867.jpg) > “Music's been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind. If it's a big record, that's the frosting on the cake, but music's the main meal.” [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music endures beyond any individual; leaving a lasting artistic legacy matters more than commercial success. **In simple terms:** Music lives on; leave a good legacy. Key Takeaway Focus on creating lasting art. Themes legacy artistry longevity Mood hopeful inspirational Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - album production - live performance - teaching - recording Key Concepts cultural impact creative fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What will your music mean to future generations? - How do you measure artistic success? A Different Perspective Commercial success can eclipse artistic value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-just-want-to-make-my-mark-leave-something-musically-good-behind/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [As long as we keep learning new music and getting better musically, there's a good chance that the record deal won't change anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/as-long-as-we-keep-learning-new-music-and-getting-better-musically/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/when-i-started-to-sing-like-myself-as-opposed-to-imitating-nat-cole/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [The British like any kind of music so long as it is loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/the-british-like-any-kind-of-music-so-long-as-it-is-loud/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [When I have sat at home with this God-given talent for music for a long time, somebody approaches me out of the blue and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-spencer/when-i-have-sat-at-home-with-this-god-given-talent-for-music-for-a/) Jeremy Spencer > [The thing I love about music is, if you do it long enough, you get better and better at translating what's in your head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/the-thing-i-love-about-music-is-if-you-do-it-long-enough-you-get/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I think it's just my personality, or maybe just because I've been playing music for so long and working so hard at it, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-prass/i-think-it-s-just-my-personality-or-maybe-just-because-i-ve-been/) [Natalie Prass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-prass/) > [I've been fascinated by music for as long as I can remember. I was the kid on the playground in the third grade who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/i-ve-been-fascinated-by-music-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-the/) [Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/) > [I've been wrestling and making music for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-truth/i-ve-been-wrestling-and-making-music-for-a-long-time/) [R-Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-truth/) > [I love exploring the hypnotic elements of music, and because of that there are very long tracks on 'Immunity.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-love-exploring-the-hypnotic-elements-of-music-and-because-of-that/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [We always focus on the quality of music because as long as the content is good, then the interest will be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/we-always-focus-on-the-quality-of-music-because-as-long-as-the/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [I love music so much, and as long as I got all this enthusiasm and ambition, and passion for this music; as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wall/i-love-music-so-much-and-as-long-as-i-got-all-this-enthusiasm-and/) [Paul Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wall/) > [The thing I stress to my fans is that I've been making big, universally friendly-type music for a long time now. I never really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machine-gun-kelly/the-thing-i-stress-to-my-fans-is-that-i-ve-been-making-big/) [Machine Gun Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machine-gun-kelly/) > [I've been making music for a long time, since I was very young, but at the same time, I'm still exploring what works for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zedd/i-ve-been-making-music-for-a-long-time-since-i-was-very-young-but-at/) [Zedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zedd/) > [I studied classical music for a long time, maybe 10 years, and I realized finally I was never going to have the hands to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-studied-classical-music-for-a-long-time-maybe-10-years-and-i/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) ## More by Ray Charles > [Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/learning-to-read-music-in-braille-and-play-by-ear-helped-me-develop-a/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/the-important-thing-is-to-feel-your-music-really-feel-it-and-believe/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I suppose I've always done my share of crying, especially when there's no other way to contain my feelings. I know that men ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-suppose-i-ve-always-done-my-share-of-crying-especially-when-there-s/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [You never can overwhelm an instrument. You will never get out all that's in an instrument. An instrument will bring you to your limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/you-never-can-overwhelm-an-instrument-you-will-never-get-out-all-that/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I'd like to think that when I sing a song, I can let you know all about the heartbreak, struggle, lies and kicks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-d-like-to-think-that-when-i-sing-a-song-i-can-let-you-know-all/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-never-wanted-to-be-famous-i-only-wanted-to-be-great/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't been able to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-don-t-know-what-would-have-happened-to-me-if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Any artist, when he goes in to record, should have the feeling that any song he records can be a hit. This may sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/any-artist-when-he-goes-in-to-record-should-have-the-feeling-that-any/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [The words to country songs are very earthy like the blues. They're not as dressed up and the people are very honest and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/the-words-to-country-songs-are-very-earthy-like-the-blues-they-re-not/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [If you can play the blues, you can do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/if-you-can-play-the-blues-you-can-do-anything/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Dreams, if they're any good, are always a little bit crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/dreams-if-they-re-any-good-are-always-a-little-bit-crazy/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Music to me is just like breathing. I have to have it. It's part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/music-to-me-is-just-like-breathing-i-have-to-have-it-it-s-part-of-me/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I set my own rhythm, and I do believe it was usually a little faster than most other people's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-set-my-own-rhythm-and-i-do-believe-it-was-usually-a-little-faster/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I was born with music inside me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-was-born-with-music-inside-me/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I had to pawn my clothes just to pay my rent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-had-to-pawn-my-clothes-just-to-pay-my-rent/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) [Explore all 98 Ray Charles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) ## More Cake quotes > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) Ludwig Erhard > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Baby I love you like a fat kid loves cake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/baby-i-love-you-like-a-fat-kid-loves-cake/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of people are programmed to think, 'Oh, I want to do this, but I also want this.' It's like they want everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metro-boomin/a-lot-of-people-are-programmed-to-think-oh-i-want-to-do-this-but-i/) [Metro Boomin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metro-boomin/) > [Happy Birthday To Me,I just turned twenty three(23),I want a new Puppy, And I'll name it Julie:) Chocolate cake anyone all I have leftover,,,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/happy-birthday-to-me-i-just-turned-twenty-three-23-i-want-a-new-puppy/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [It's strange because pandan cake isn't hard to make but yet it can only be bought in Singapore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/it-s-strange-because-pandan-cake-isn-t-hard-to-make-but-yet-it-can/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [Let them eat cake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoinette/let-them-eat-cake/) [Marie Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoinette/) > [“I bring the leftovers to rehearsal, and Ms. Albright lets us have a cake picnic on the stage. And by cake picnic, I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/i-bring-the-leftovers-to-rehearsal-and-ms-albright-lets-us-have-a/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [Your favorite kind of cake can't be birthday cake, that's like saying your favorite kind of cereal is breakfast cereal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/your-favorite-kind-of-cake-can-t-be-birthday-cake-that-s-like-saying/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [“We went for a walk on College Street and popped into Coco's for a snack. There, I revealed my future, much like the exquisitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-rosen/we-went-for-a-walk-on-college-street-and-popped-into-coco-s-for-a/) Amy Rosen > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [Sam loved to listen to music and make his own songs, to wear soft velvets, to play in the castle kitchen beside the cooks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sam-loved-to-listen-to-music-and-make-his-own-songs-to-wear-soft/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Photographing a cake can be art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-penn/photographing-a-cake-can-be-art/) [Irving Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-penn/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) Browse all 1,341 Cake quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Music's been around a long time, and there's going to be music long after Ray Charles is dead. 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