My dad loved black singers. So listening to New Orleans music eventually I wanted to play an instrument.

I listened to the radio so I was influenced by everyone from Michael Jackson to Milli Vanilli. But thankfully my dad had a collection of Cat Stevens albums while my mom was listening to jazz.

Just remaining quietly in the presence of God listening to Him being attentive to Him requires a lot of courage and know-how.

So when I got to be about 13 or 14 I started listening - even though my parents music was way cool - to contemporary hard rock at that time which was Aerosmith Cheap Trick Black Sabbath AC/DC Ted Nugent and all that and that's just where I came from.

Racism is taught in the home. We agree on that? Well it's very hard to teach racism to a teenager who's listening to rap music and who idolizes say Snoop Dogg. It's hard to say 'That guy is less than you.' The kid is like 'I like that guy he's cool. How is he less than me?

The art of effective listening is essential to clear communication and clear communication is necessary to management success.

Any problem big or small within a family always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn't listening.

I have always been aware that you have to get people listening before you can change their minds. Any artist's big fear is being ignored so if you get debate that's great.

Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right.

I have a 6-year-old and his thing is to turn on Radio Disney in the car and I get such an allergic reaction to listening to that music and the context into which it falls. I'm really working on him about that.

Like all soul singers I grew up singing in church but sometimes I would leave early and sit in the car listening to gospel band The Blind Boys of Alabama. Hearing their lead singer Clarence made me connect the idea of church and show business and see how I could make a career singing music that stirred the soul.

I listen to KCRW in the car and Pandora radio which I stream through the stereo from my iPhone. I've been listening to everything from Caribou to Conway Twitty. If I'm going on a longer car ride I'll download some podcasts.

I really like listening to music in my car.

When I finish an album and I find myself listening to it in the car because it makes me feel a certain way that's the time to try to let other people know about it.

That's what I love. Not being interrupted sitting in a car by myself and listening to music in the rain. There are so many great songs yet to sing.

Before now I've always taken my mixes out to the car and listened to them in the parking lot. I still do that but more so now I'm listening to it on the Beat box and I think people should give it at least a listen and check it out and see what it is.

I've got CDs in my car listening all the time for that next song because everybody's looking.