"I listened to it for years and I found myself singing songs from it by default all the time. All the time. And it's something about his delivery. My friend John pointed out probably 20 years ago that he sings like he plays trumpet, not the other way around. It betrays his sensitive delicate self. Somebody who would go hide himself in something as insidious as heroin. Yeah, and just his big fat gentle beating heat – never far from me, I love it."

"It could be any Curtis Mayfield record, really. When I hear his voice, it just lifts me up. His music puts me in the space to create. It’s quite rare, that mix of fragility and toughness. It’s there from day one with a song like It’s Alright by the Impressions, and it’s there on his late music too, this incredible ability to sweeten the message with beautiful melodies. He’s a complete inspiration as a songwriter, musician and arranger. Curtis lives!"