I wish I wrote songs like Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Don Henley, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, so many of the songwriters I admire. They have the ability to say things.

I'd say that Ray Charles is definitely the biggest influence on my singing. Also Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.

I felt a real kinship with Steve Bruner. He's one of those guys that is so prolific that he has a hard time keeping up with himself. I'm the opposite and move at a glacial place.

Working with Thundercat was really a thrill.

I've never felt that I was doing anything more worthwhile musically than when I was with Steely Dan.

For me, one of the best things of having been a Doobie Brother is that the people involved always were great people.

I didn't own a record player when I was younger. I just played every day after school and then started gigging around town. I heard bands and songs through friends of mine, but a lot of what I picked up on was learned by traveling through college towns.

It was surprising, really, that 'Minute by Minute' did as well as it did and as quickly as it did.

There have been albums I've recorded in the past that have had success, and then there have been ones I've had extreme faith in, and they ended up as commercial failures.

I enjoy it immensely, but I'm not comfortable on stage as a person.

I think it takes longer for me to make a record than most artists.

We've reached a point where people don't even know how to look for anything fundamentally important anymore.

Each generation tries to disassociate itself with the last generation. And then, about three decades later, people kind of start to maybe appreciate what you might have done a while back that you don't even realize you did.

I've come to learn that music speaks for itself.

When I was younger, I was pretty cavalier about my voice - I don't know that I even thought about it that much, to be honest with you.

I'm not the kind of artist who can just gear myself to a particular radio format without looking like a fashion victim.

I use Facebook, but I find that I'm... if I put up a picture of my dog there or a sunset or something, I get a million hits. If I mention anything to do with my career, three people respond. And/or if I say anything political, I have to duck afterwards. I try to be selective.

I remember one of my favorite all-time records was by Edwin Starr: 'Stop Her on Sight.'

Most times, lyrics are the last thing I listen to, being a musician.

I love Hank Williams songs, but I love hearing Ray Charles sing them much more.

I just don't think many people would have crossed the street to hear me doing a hip hop-influenced album!

I write about humility, because it's something I hope I one day actually possess.

I grew up with this idea that songwriters had a great job. My family was Irish Catholic, so if you became a priest or a songwriter, you were golden.

I've always written short stories.