Raphael Saadiq

“If you want to be like the greats, you learn from the greats.”

“I just follow great people. If you want to play like a pro, you learn from the pros.”

“Every suit I wear is custom-made by a guy named Waraire Boswell in L.A.”

“Frustrations are going to be there in every profession you're in.”

“Growing up in the Bay Area, I played early on with these quartet groups who set guidelines for me. I remember the guys would all have the same clothes and shoes, like these uniforms. I was in awe.”

“Isaac Hayes told me once, 'There's no such thing as old-school. Either you went to school or you didn't.'”

“I honed in on a great time, the Motown era, the '60s and '70s. That type of music has always been a staple in my life.”

“My mission has always been to do something that suits everybody.”

“The way to stay inspired and motivated is by doing what you like, doing what you love.”

“When I come to London now it's like being in L.A., because they know me like I'm at home.”

“I'm using more energy than ever.”

“You know all these stadiums that U2 are playing? I've played in them. And I'm building up to it again.”

“If you really love music, people can tell if you love music. You have to just stick with it.”

“I liked the name Saadiq and didn't want to be known as an artist as Raphael Wiggins.”

“Back in the day people made music to go on tour. They didn't make music to make a video.”

“You can go on 'Saturday Night Live' now and not even play live.”

“It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.”

“When you look at athletes, they have fundamentals.”

“I have musician friends who play too much golf, and they're not as good at music anymore.”

“Cats 25 years younger can't run with me.”