There were three great child singing stars: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Jackie Washington.

I had difficulty working for other people.

Soul music as we've always known it hasn't changed. There are different players now with different attitudes, but there is nothing new being done musically.

The '70s and '80s were just the period during which the best soul music was created and the best records were done.

My inspiration to do comedy came from many places. Saturday mornings, I would watch Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis movies. I later got into watching stand-ups like Eddie Murphy, who was my main inspiration.

I think people are dreaming big because they have the tools to dream big. I hope that people are dreaming big because it makes them feel good about their lives.

It's a must to continually stay alert and aware because ideas come from everywhere. And beyond relying on your fine-tuned radar to pick up on the next inspiration, consider seeking mentors.

From my experience, I've been honest about who I am and what I believe and the motivation behind my music. But I've played it in arenas that are for all people. I've pretty much stuck to that model my whole career.