When I'm singing the blues, I'm singing life.

At last my love has come along. My lonely days are over and life is like a song.

When I'm performing for the people, I am me, then. I am that little girl who, when she was five years old, used to sing at church. Or I'm that 15-year-old young lady who wanted to be grown and wanted to sing and couldn't wait to be smokin' a cigarette, you know?

My mother always told me, even if a song has been done a thousand times, you can still bring something of your own to it. I'd like to think I did that.

I figured I could do "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World" because I believe it's the truth.

I am so happy that I am alive and can walk.

When Malcolm X was assassinated I was working at the Apollo. They brought his body to the Unity Funeral Home, which was around the corner.