They told me that they are starting a classic label, and wanted me to be the first artist. So I signed, and am producing myself, and writing my own music, but I’m their first artist on their classic label. And I have creative control.

Overall my race hasn’t been a problem. I’m a Black artist with White skin. At the end of the day you have to sing what’s in your own soul.

I have a different mentality when it comes to catering to a man, I just won’t allow it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll do for you but I’m not taking care of no man and catering to him for life; he better be bringing something to the table. I learned that from my mother and my grandmother.

My first album came out in 1979.

I would walk down the hall with my guitar and play for anyone that would listen. As a young kid I was really driven and I was going to make it happen no matter what.

I write in all keys. I’ve always written in all keys. I’ve probably written a lot of songs in A.

It’s just a whole different thing, and it’s just that my life has been a blessing, and I thank god every day for the gifts that he has given me and for my daughter and to be able to watch her grow and be a part of her joys and her excitement and what she wants to do in life.

All in all, it’s been a wonderful, wonderful ride. I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

I play guitar, piano, bass and percussion.

You never know where a blessing can come from.

I think that’s the problem in a lot of music. We’ve got these record labels.

This is a gift. This is a gift from God. It’s really like the old Biblical passage that talks about your body being a temple. That’s not to say that I’ve never done anything but I’ve never abused myself. Never gone over the top for a long period of time.

I just think it’s a blessing that I was able to have the gift of words and to be able to put them into music. I was given a great gift all the way around. I didn’t ever have to really go out and look for songs, you know.

I constantly tour, even when I don’t have a record out.

There were times I used to go to parties when I was, you know, like 15-, 16-years-old, and I’d always bring my guitar, and all my friends would be like, sing one of the Smokey songs. And everything I sang was his music, and I could sound just like him.

I’m from California, and still live in LA.

They told me that they are starting a classic label, and wanted me to be the first artist. So I signed, and am producing myself, and writing my own music, but I’m their first artist on their classic label. And I have creative control.

I try to keep my ear to the streets without sacrificing who I am as an artist. If a song needs a drum machine I’ll use a drum machine. If it needs a drummer, I’ll use a real drummer.

I still have a passion for the music, which is such a beautiful thing. I still wake up in the middle of the night out of a dream and have a melody in my head, and run to my piano.

I know I have sex appeal, but I’ve never felt like an actual sex symbol. Fans sometimes think I am. The majority of them are sweet about it, but occasionally somebody weird becomes totally fixated upon me.

OK, so truth hurts – but what else does truth do?

I have enough love to last me a lifetime! Thank God I’ll never lose my imagination and my passion. That’s really what it is. I’m still passionate about what I do.