Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who admired Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin. Tracy Chapman admirearethacleveland Change image and share on social
The way popular music is categorized and formatted cuts down on everyone's options. And although people don't talk about it, there are a lot of issues of race determining musical categories of what's rock, R&B, or even folk. It ends up restricting creativity. Tracy Chapman categorizecategorycreativity share on social
I learn all these things about the record talking about it after it's finished. Tracy Chapman finishlearnrecord Change image and share on social
If you are living a life that feels right to you, if you're willing to take creative chances or a creative path that feels like it's mostly in keeping with your sensibilities, you know, aesthetic and artistic, then that's what matters. Tracy Chapman aestheticartisticchance share on social
I never assumed I would have that commercial success, so it was a total surprise. And honestly, I never assumed that it would ever happen again. Tracy Chapman assumecommercialhappen Change image and share on social
Maybe it's naive to say, but it almost seems like, in the past, people tried to sell you something you would actually need, like a hammer or a broom or a toothbrush. But now there's this notion that they can sell you anything. And all they have to do is convince you that you need it. Tracy Chapman broomconvincehammer share on social
I love living in California and being able to go to the beach or go to the woods. Tracy Chapman beachcalifornialive Change image and share on social
I don't know - I'm not sure about anything as far as religion and spirituality go. Tracy Chapman religionspirituality Change image and share on social
I picked up the guitar at 11, but even before then, I was writing songs on the organ. Tracy Chapman guitarorganpick Change image and share on social
With other people, you're always swapping music. Somebody is always listening to something you've never heard. It's a great way to hear all sorts of new things. Tracy Chapman greathavehear Change image and share on social
