I don't think I ever sing the same way twice. The blues is sort of a mixed-up thing. You just have to feel it. Anything I do sing is part of my life.

I can only sing songs my way. I don't know any other way.

Somebody once said we never know what is enough until we know what's more than enough.

People don't understand the kind of fight it takes to record what you want to record the way you want to record it.

Singing songs like 'The Man I Love' or 'Porgy' is no more work than sitting down and eating Chinese roast duck, and I love roast duck.

And when you're poor, you grow up fast.

I'm always making a comeback but nobody ever tells me where I've been.