“I've always loved the blues, ever since I was a kid. It has a depth to...” — Nickolas Ashford Quote

I've always loved the blues, ever since I was a kid. It has a depth to it that a lot of contemporary music doesn't have. It has pain and suffering in it, but funny stories, too. And it is built on storytelling, which is something I really love.

We call 'Ain't No Mountain' the golden egg that landed us at Motown.

So you can have your program, but you also have to be ready to change it immediately because there are certain kinds of people who like certain kinds of songs and they like - some people want to dance when you come out, some people just want to be intimate with you. So you kind of feel your way through a show.

I think I can see people wanting to hear more music-music now as opposed to all hip-hop. You know, which I have nothing against hip-hop. I think some of it is really good. But on the other hand, some of the real great artists are just being lost because they're not getting the airplay or anything to make them inspired to record again.

I don't want the viewer to be able to peel away the layers of my painting like the layers of an onion and find that all the blues are on the same level.

I played ball for the Hollywood Blues of the Pacific Coast League, and I thought I was going to be a major leaguer. But I was the only one who seemed to think so.

The blues and jazz will live forever... So will the Delta and the Big Easy.

Gospel music is never pessimistic, it's never 'oh my god, its all going down the tubes', like the blues often is.

I am very excited to be here in Wales and look forward to putting on the Cardiff Blues shirt.