--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about…" description: "\"Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who admired Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/tracy-chapman-6938_cleveland_growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about_1568442.jpg" --- # Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my… ![“Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who admired Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin.” quote by Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/tracy-chapman-6938_cleveland_growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about_1568442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/tracy-chapman-6938_cleveland_growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about_1568442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/tracy-chapman-6938_cleveland_growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about_1568442.jpg) > “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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Family influence shapes artistic development; exposure to powerful singers inspires a lifelong passion for music and cultural heritage. **In simple terms:** Family inspires musical path. Key Takeaway Honor your roots and keep learning. Themes culture family artistry heritage Mood inspirational nostalgic Type biographical reflective When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - music education - cultural preservation Key Concepts Vocal tradition musical mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How does your family history affect your creative work? - What role does cultural heritage play in modern music? A Different Perspective Neglecting heritage may limit artistic depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleveland/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up with music in the house. I was told I could sing as soon as I started talking. Everybody in my family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-grew-up-with-music-in-the-house-i-was-told-i-could-sing-as-soon-as/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [As a child I always wanted to be a singer. The music my mother played in the house moved me - Aretha Franklin, Chaka…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/as-a-child-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-singer-the-music-my-mother-played/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I grew up singing. My mother was a music teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-grew-up-singing-my-mother-was-a-music-teacher/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [I don't remember ever not singing. My mother loved music, and she taught me songs, country music, spirituals. I would sing for people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-henderson/i-don-t-remember-ever-not-singing-my-mother-loved-music-and-she/) [Florence Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-henderson/) > [I started singing when I was three - my mother would teach me some versions of 'Thirupugazh.' And I loved being on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-sriram/i-started-singing-when-i-was-three-my-mother-would-teach-me-some/) [Sid Sriram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-sriram/) > [I remember I always felt much more safe standing up on a chair and singing in front of my mother than I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-remember-i-always-felt-much-more-safe-standing-up-on-a-chair-and/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [“That innate love of melody, which she had inherited from her ballad-singing mother, gave the simplest music a power which could well-nigh drag her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/that-innate-love-of-melody-which-she-had-inherited-from-her-ballad/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [I had trained in Hindustani classical singing and my mother thought I could become a playback singer, but I always wanted to become an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-rao/i-had-trained-in-hindustani-classical-singing-and-my-mother-thought-i/) [Amrita Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-rao/) > [Oh boy, I grew up hearing Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers, Mahalia Jackson, sitting on Mahalia Jackson's lap in my dad's church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merry-clayton/oh-boy-i-grew-up-hearing-sam-cooke-the-soul-stirrers-mahalia-jackson/) [Merry Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merry-clayton/) > [Yes, I heard my people singing!-in the glow of parlor coal-stove and on summer porches sweet with lilac air, from choir loft and Sunday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-robeson/yes-i-heard-my-people-singing-in-the-glow-of-parlor-coal-stove-and-on/) [Paul Robeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-robeson/) > [I grew up in St. Louis in a tiny house full of large music - Mahalia Jackson and Marian Anderson singing majestically on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-grew-up-in-st-louis-in-a-tiny-house-full-of-large-music-mahalia/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [When I am chopping trees out in the woods because I heat my house with wood, I feel myself right in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/when-i-am-chopping-trees-out-in-the-woods-because-i-heat-my-house/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [The singer who really opened the door for me was Sarah Vaughan. But I listen to so much music, especially when I was growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-reeves/the-singer-who-really-opened-the-door-for-me-was-sarah-vaughan-but-i/) [Dianne Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-reeves/) > [The reason we probably started dating is because I knew who Mahalia Jackson was. Derek's like, 'What? You do?' I was like, 'Yes, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/the-reason-we-probably-started-dating-is-because-i-knew-who-mahalia/) [Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/) > [Gospel music was very prevalent in my house. My mother also loved Nat King Cole. That was some of the first music that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/gospel-music-was-very-prevalent-in-my-house-my-mother-also-loved-nat/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) ## More by Tracy Chapman > [Renounce all those material things that you gained by exploiting other human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/renounce-all-those-material-things-that-you-gained-by-exploiting/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [At this point in my life I'd like to live as if only love mattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/at-this-point-in-my-life-i-d-like-to-live-as-if-only-love-mattered/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [There have been some gains made in terms of more equality for women in the workplace and in the way the legal system deals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/there-have-been-some-gains-made-in-terms-of-more-equality-for-women/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I never assumed I would have that commercial success, so it was a total surprise. And honestly, I never assumed that it would ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-never-assumed-i-would-have-that-commercial-success-so-it-was-a/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [If you wait, I will come for you...remembering your touch, your kiss, your warm embrace. I'll My find my way back to you. Please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/if-you-wait-i-will-come-for-you-remembering-your-touch-your-kiss-your/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I can't think of anything worse, really, than to try to live up to someone else's expectations of what you should be. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-can-t-think-of-anything-worse-really-than-to-try-to-live-up-to/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I don't know - I'm not sure about anything as far as religion and spirituality go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-don-t-know-i-m-not-sure-about-anything-as-far-as-religion-and/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I dressed up as a veterinarian for a Halloween costume party. I had the lab coat. I got a couple of stuffed animals for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-dressed-up-as-a-veterinarian-for-a-halloween-costume-party-i-had/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [There's a power in words. There's a power in being able to explain and describe and articulate what you know and feel and believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/there-s-a-power-in-words-there-s-a-power-in-being-able-to-explain-and/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I mentioned that I received a scholarship to Episcopalian school, and the model for the school was 'From each according to his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-mentioned-that-i-received-a-scholarship-to-episcopalian-school-and/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [When you feel like you've had a good show, you go backstage and you talk to yourself about it, and if you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/when-you-feel-like-you-ve-had-a-good-show-you-go-backstage-and-you/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I always considered trying to make a living playing music. But it was always really clear to me, at the various stages in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-always-considered-trying-to-make-a-living-playing-music-but-it-was/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [“Some folks call her a runaway. A failure in the race. But she knows where her ticket takes her. She will find her place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/some-folks-call-her-a-runaway-a-failure-in-the-race-but-she-knows/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [After it's finished, sometimes I can trace a path that goes back to the possible source of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/after-it-s-finished-sometimes-i-can-trace-a-path-that-goes-back-to/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I picked up the guitar at 11, but even before then, I was writing songs on the organ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-picked-up-the-guitar-at-11-but-even-before-then-i-was-writing-songs/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) [Explore all 96 Tracy Chapman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) ## More Cleveland quotes > [I was actually worried about David Ross safety being in Cleveland. I thought I had to be a bodyguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-smith/i-was-actually-worried-about-david-ross-safety-being-in-cleveland-i/) [J. R. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-smith/) > [When you mention to people growing up in Cleveland they bring up the river catching on fire, or LeBron James leaving, they have these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/when-you-mention-to-people-growing-up-in-cleveland-they-bring-up-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [I seriously love Cleveland. It's a great city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-seriously-love-cleveland-it-s-a-great-city/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [Cleveland is home... or was home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/cleveland-is-home-or-was-home/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) > [It's amazing to come here. I'm so happy that UFC is finally here. We've been starving for it in Cleveland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/it-s-amazing-to-come-here-i-m-so-happy-that-ufc-is-finally-here-we-ve/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [As so often, a political event involving Donald Trump looks like swinging wildly between melodrama and farce. The Republican National Convention in Cleveland has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-colvin/as-so-often-a-political-event-involving-donald-trump-looks-like/) [Mark Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-colvin/) > [I love this city. There's Cleveland pride in it for me. Everyone has each other's backs here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-love-this-city-there-s-cleveland-pride-in-it-for-me-everyone-has/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [There is a lot to do in Cleveland. It's just those December, January, February months that are tough. But there is a lot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/there-is-a-lot-to-do-in-cleveland-it-s-just-those-december-january/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [The difference with Cleveland is that the racial tension was not a casual taste of it. It was outlandish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/the-difference-with-cleveland-is-that-the-racial-tension-was-not-a/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [I love the normalcy of Cleveland. There's regular people there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/i-love-the-normalcy-of-cleveland-there-s-regular-people-there/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Cleveland fans are great. They really do support their team, and they back them up no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/cleveland-fans-are-great-they-really-do-support-their-team-and-they/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [Philadelphia might not want to hear this, but I grew up in Cleveland, and I think there are really a lot of similarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/philadelphia-might-not-want-to-hear-this-but-i-grew-up-in-cleveland/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [When you mention the Cleveland Browns to me, it brings back vast memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dorsey/when-you-mention-the-cleveland-browns-to-me-it-brings-back-vast/) [John Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dorsey/) > [People move from Cleveland, then move back. It's something inside you. You can't explain it, but there's something inside - it's just home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-porter/people-move-from-cleveland-then-move-back-it-s-something-inside-you/) [Shawn Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-porter/) > [The truth is that many powerful guys have fooled around while working for the people. Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Warren Harding to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-truth-is-that-many-powerful-guys-have-fooled-around-while-working/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) [Browse all 272 Cleveland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleveland/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who admired Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tracy Chapman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about-singing-from-my-mother-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cleveland" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about-singing-from-my-mother-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/tracy-chapman-6938_cleveland_growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about_1568442.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/tracy-chapman-6938_cleveland_growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about_1568442.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a43/tracy-chapman-6938_cleveland_growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about_1568442.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who…” — Tracy Chapman", "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": "Tracy Chapman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Growing up in Cleveland, I learned...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about-singing-from-my-mother-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/growing-up-in-cleveland-i-learned-about-singing-from-my-mother-who/#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 } } ] } ```