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" I base myself in African-derived music. Blues is one of the modern forms of African music. "
Taj Mahal
Blues
African
Modern
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" No matter what went down, music was always going to be a part of my life. What ultimately happened is that, over a period of time, I just kind of looked around and when like, 'Wow! I'm actually making a living doing this.' "
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" I just worked my own personal thoughts into my music, and just kept at it until I found a way in. "
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" I came up not understanding that a lot of people didn't start to hear music until they went to college or were turned on by an older brother or sister. "
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" Music is like the soul of the planet. "
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" I'm doing exactly what I always wanted to do, and I still like what I can do musically. "
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" More and more people are finally realizing that in the heart of America, there's all this incredible music that wasn't widely heard before because it wasn't in the interest of those who feel they have to control the taste of the wider public. "
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" If the Rolling Stones are playing a concert across town, that's not my audience anyways. But I do find that there's a lot of people coming back around to see me again. "
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" American music is a powerful ingredient in international music, and as much as it comes from within, it also comes from without. "
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" As a youngster, my parents made me aware that all that was from the African Diaspora belonged to me. So I came in with Caribbean music, African music, Latin music, gospel music and blues. "
Taj Mahal
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Parents
Caribbean
" Naw, it - it never stops, man... You gotta be doing what you're supposed to be doing - whenever, however it's coming down, you know. If you're getting your butt kicked - you still gotta do what you gotta be doing. "
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" I've only been on MTV once as one of their 'Closet Classics,' with some bootleg footage of a 1970 tour I did in Holland. They didn't know what to make of my music, but they finally invented a name for it - world beat music. "
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" It's very interesting, the dynamics of popularity. When you do something all the time, you don't worry about whether it's trendy or not. "
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" I wanted to explore the connections between different kinds of music. "
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Explore
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" Ziggy Marley is the third generation of Marleys I know. I knew his grandmother and his dad - I did a children's album with his grandmother. They're like family. "
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" I'm a composer, man. "
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" My mother was American, and my father was from the Caribbean, and there was a big open door into the world of humanity and music. "
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" I'm perceived as someone who goes out and searches for new music, but it was all present in my household. "
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" What you have to understand is that blues... it's in a line from the oldest forms of African music. If you're playing it like it's an echo of the past, it would be a lot less exciting, but this music lives today. "
Taj Mahal
Blues
You
Past
" I don't need the credits for playing the blues and paying the dues. I've already done it. There are some other things to do here - movies and scores and voice-overs. "
Taj Mahal
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Playing
Done
" It's just like heirloom tomatoes; this is heirloom music. We used to have all kinds of diversity in our poultry, in our vegetables, in our fruits, and slowly but surely the monoculture beast comes in. I'm saying that's not a good idea. And if it means that I gotta do it on my own, then I do it on my own. "
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" I haven't worn one for a long time, but I look pretty good in a suit. "
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" My grandparents on my father's side came to this country from the Caribbean with a strong connection to Africa and no shame about it. "
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" The blues is played everywhere. There's no place I've been where they don't have blues or aren't interested in blues. "
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" I'm old enough to chew my peas and corn without choking. "
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" Very old music is, like, 11th century in my mind. That's very old. "
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Very