Charlie Christian had no more impact on my playing than Django Reinhardt or Lonnie Johnson. I just wanted to play like him. I wanted to play like all of them. All of these people were important to me. I couldn't play like any of them, though.

I tried to connect my singing voice to my guitar an' my guitar to my singing voice. Like the two was talking to one another.

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

You never miss what you've never had. I never had any other life. I didn't know any other life.

Sometimes the proprietors of the little juke joints gave me a couple dollars. I loved that. I'd go back next Saturday.

The Blues? It's the mother of American music. That's what is is - the source.

I've been married twice. Most women would rather not be married to a traveling blues singer