There are better ways we can transform this virulent hatred - by living our ideals the Peace Corps exchange students teachers exporting our music poetry blue jeans.

Actually I feel music becoming more and more important. It's a big source of inspiration. With what's going on in the world we feel almost desperate. Music also brings you peace.

Music has the power to make me feel good like nothing else does. It gives me some peace for a while. Takes me back to who I really am.

Bob Marley performed the 'One Love Peace' concert in Jamaica with the two different warring political sides. There's always been that in black music and culture in general. It's no surprise because black music is such a reflection of what's going on in black life. It's not unusual for hip-hop.

But only art and music have the power to bring peace.

The music industry's actions at the time of 9/11 and since have been actions driven by patriotism in most instances and greed and stupidity to a lesser degree. Sounds like real life doesn't it?

There is a real patriotism underneath the best of my music but it is a critical questioning and often angry patriotism.

I've learned the importance of loving what you do. I have also learned more patience due to the nature of the music business.

We're living in a time when parenting is not at all mirroring the way I was parented. For me I just followed my parents around on their errands when they were busy on the phone I was quiet. It's a different kettle of fish these days: They run the house and you listen to their music and you go to their appointments.

All a musician can do is to get closer to the sources of nature and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws.

Those little nimble musicians of the air that warble forth their curious ditties with which nature hath furnished them to the shame of art.

I find that classical music helps put me in a place that is very calming and allows me to express emotion through my body. I played clarinet as a child so I guess I have a bit of a musical ear.

Music is my living. I enjoy selling my music.

One time I introduced my orchestra as the Shampoo Music Makers instead of the Champagne Music Makers.

I grew up with classical music when I was a ballet dancer. Now when I have to prepare an emotional scene to cry or whatever I listen to sonatas. Vivaldi and stuff. It's just beautiful to me.

If you think my music is sentimental and self-absorbed I agree with you.

The William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh... was the place where Champagne Music was born.

I believe 100 percent in the power and importance of music.

I didn't really see the British punk movement if that's what it was as wildly original because I had been listening so intently to all the New York music since 1973 really.

One and the same thing can at the same time be good bad and indifferent e.g. music is good to the melancholy bad to those who mourn and neither good nor bad to the deaf.

Hearing my songs in public freaks me out a bit. There was one restaurant I really liked in L.A. but I had to stop going there when they started playing my music. It felt kinda awkward.

I've only been to Ireland once and I felt I would wake up with voices in my head almost like music and that if I were a songwriter I would be very inspired.

Music can affect for good or ill the body as well as the mind.

And whether you're drawn to gospel music or church music or honky-tonk music it informs your character and it informs your talent.