You've got to have something to eat and a little love in your life before you can hold still for any damn body's sermon on how to behave.

I think I copied my style from Louis Armstrong. Because I used to like the big volume and the big sound that Bessie Smith got when she sang ... So I liked the feeling that Louis got and I wanted the big volume that Bessie Smith got. But I found that it didn't work with me, because I didn't have a big voice. So anyway between the two of them I sorta got Billie Holiday.

If I'm going to sing like someone else, then I don't need to sing at all.

One day a whole damn song fell into place in my head.

Lust may be in the heart, though it be not seen by others; as guests may be in the house, though they look not out at the windows.

You can be up to your boobies in white satin, with gardenias in your hair and no sugar cane for miles, but you can still be working on a plantation.

Them that's got shall get, Them that's not shall lose. So the Bible says, And it still is news. Mama may have, Papa may have, But God bless the child that's got his own.