Even in today’s opera world, the position of the black tenor is problematic.

If you try to do that in pop music – to play only rare show tunes, for example – people don’t come.

I link them together myself, but Robeson was many, many different things. He possessed a brilliant instrument, but did not do much opera.

I listen constantly to classical music and I find that stretches my imagination. I listen to some contemporary and even cutting-edge things.

If you try to do that in pop music - to play only rare show tunes, for example - people don't come.

I was very young at the time, and I mainly appreciated their vocal qualities, even though I was already living as they did - as black performers in a white world.

Once in a while, I try to sneak in something less known anyway.

Even in today's opera world, the position of the black tenor is problematic.

But life is tough and if you're creative, it's tougher.