120 Quotes by Michael McDonald

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

Whenever I sing blues from the '50s or the kind of blues that you might have heard Eric Clapton or Duane Allman emulate, I often feel the similarity of some of the ragtime stuff I sang early on. A lot of the phrasing and the harmonization is the same.

Throughout my career, there has always been an element of surprise. Sometimes there are moments of disappointment; sometimes there are moments of surprising success.

It's funny how, as we get older, what become our fondest memories are not necessarily the happiest times of our lives but the times of our lives that shaped us the most.

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'm a very slow songwriter; it takes me sometimes years to write one song, if I ever finish.

While making any record, you look for the opportunity to bring someone who will help generate something special in the music environments you create.

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