Quote Of The Day By Steven Tyler: 'It's An Honor That I Get To Be ...'

Undeniably one of the most iconic hard rock bands of the 1970's, Aerosmith's hit songs and trademark vocal cries are largely thanks to lead singer Steven Tyler. Born on March 26, 1948, in New York, he was raised in a musically inclined family. His father Victor Tallarico was a Bronx high school classical music teacher, while his mother Susan was an oil painter entrenched in the city's creative scene. 

It's unsurprising that, even as a teenager, Tyler had his sights set on a career in music, starting his first band, Chain Reaction, in 1964 to almost immediate success — not many high schoolers were given the chance to open for the Byrds and the Beach Boys. It was Tyler's move to Boston in the late '60s that united him with bassist Tom Hamilton, guitarists Joe Perry & Brad Whitford, and drummer Joey Kramer. Their band name, Aerosmith, would be inspired by a musician from the mid-'60s, and the rest is the stuff of rock 'n' roll legend.

Aerosmith's many contributions to the genre, including their career-topping songs from 1989, got them inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Some aspects of Tyler's career seem like a case of being in the right place at the right time, but other creative endeavors (such as the 1986 reimagining of "Walk This Way" with hip-hop artists Run-D.M.C., and his pivot to "American Idol' judge) showed a masterful understanding of the shifting tides of the music industry — and that's why Tyler is today's quote of the day.

"It's an honor that I get to be that guy onstage. It's not something I earned,"  Steven Tyler affirmed to Oprah Winfrey in a 2012 interview for O, The Oprah Magazine.

This humble sentiment came after being asked how Tyler manages to not let his fame go to his head and allow his ego to dominate him. His response acknowledged that he certainly has a big ego after several decades of touring and hit songs, but that he recognizes it must be kept in check. While the truth behind the quote is a more subjective interpretation of Tyler's long career of continuously honing his craft, recognizing his privileged position definitely helps to keep the "Sweet Emotion" singer grounded and grateful.

Steven Tyler was not just being humble in his quote; he was reflecting on how luck played a massive role in his success over the decades. In fact, some of the most tragic events of the singer's life directly acted against the best interests of his career, yet he continued to get opportunities to perform and showcase his talent. It also appears that some of the band's greatest hits were more of an intuitive process, rather than a deliberate act of harnessing a craft. In his interview with Oprah, he gave a very famous example, saying, "'Sweet Emotion' just came. Sometimes it just comes to you as a gift." 

The turmoil of fame and the celebrity lifestyle didn't hamper Tyler's creative pursuits or his natural talent; indeed, the universe appeared to continuously work in his favor. This was the case from the very beginning, as his parents' resort in Sunapee, New Hampshire, was where he happened to meet Joe Perry for the first time, with his privileged access placing him at exactly the right place at the right time. 

It may seem as though Tyler was born to fill his role, and while that may give some a false sense of security, his quote demonstrates an awareness that his success is more of a blessing than something owed to him. Few things in life are truly guaranteed — pursuing your passion may alter your circumstances, but it's up to fate to get you the rest of the way.

• "The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those that got there first."

• "You've got to put in ten stupid things if you want to get two great out. That's where it's at. Dare to suck ... There's the creativity."

• "You can only change yourself, but when you do, isn't it funny how everybody around you changes, too?"

• "I've seen whales calving in the waters off Maui, and I've watched my children being born. But music is the most beautiful thing of all."

• "How did I survive in the music business? By being in a band that sat together in New Hampshire, New England in the 1970s that had a dream."