When I got involved with The Five Crowns who later became The Drifters, and we got this hit record, I still was looking at this as kind of a fun thing.

When the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we see. No, I won't be afraid, no, I won't be afraid, just as long as you stand, stand by me.

Those things don't happen today. I feel sorry for the kids in the industry today. They have on sunglasses, eat caviar in jet planes, but they'll never know the true feeling that we did.

If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall. Or the mountain should crumble to the sea. I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear, just as long as you stand by me.

I always felt I never chose music, it chose me.

I still perform it in all my shows. I'll do it as long as I'm breathing. I'm so proud it has stood the test of time.

You're writing it is how you feel. And when you're finished you put your signature on it and you mail it off and that's it. And that's how "Stand By Me" was really.

I do like what Alicia Keys and John Legend are doing. With their music, you keep your clothes on.

I still think my whole career was accidental. I didn't pursue it. I feel like I'm cheating sometimes.

It doesn't take me long to write songs.

I do a lot of Vegas work and work with the comedians.

I'm not a humanitarian, I'm a hell-raiser.

I guess I just like to challenge myself and push myself harder to do things that I dont think I can, to do things that other people do not think I can. It pushes me. I push my own personal limits.

A lot of amazing comedians that I've worked with just really follow their instincts and you can't really teach someone comedic timing. And you just kind of have it.

When you say something, make sure you have said it. The chances of your having said it are only fair.

Ive always loved the blues, John Lee Hooker, Janis Joplin, Hendrix.

The person who does only what he must when he is in the mood or when it's convenient isn't going to be successful.

Clubs are so lame. Nobody even dances at these clubs. They stand around and get drunk and they schmooze. There is no enjoyment factor.

To me, reading a fashion magazine is the last thing I need to do. I've got books I need to read.

An optimist sees the oportunity in every difficulty.

The mind is the source of all experience, and by changing the direction of the mind, we can change the quality of everything we experience.