My mother was a very beautiful lady, I thought. She was very good to me. I guess - she died when I was nine and a half, but if she had lived I probably wouldn't be trying to play guitar. She wanted me to be known, but as something else. Not a guitar player.

When I was young, I didn't play like I do today. So these kids are starting at the height that I've reached. Think what they might do over time.

I do it because I still get a kick out of it. I still love performing. It keeps me young.

Being a blues singer is like being black two times.

The blues are three L's - living , loving and hopefully, laughing.

The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.

There's a sadness to all kinds of music if you want to hear it. There's also happiness to it if you want to hear it.