I'm a firm believer and I think my religion is inside.

I knew exactly what I was, and there was no hang-up with me. None whatsoever. The fact that the pigment of my skin maybe being lighter brown than other people of my race, maybe some of them, but you know our race has all colors.

When you're playing music, say for instance, you're playing a part of the band and you're looking at your music, your horn is down into the stand. This way, it's

... Geniuses have a little extra something. There's that little something that you know is a little different.

I was still in school at the time and Cab was very popular and everybody was doing Cab Calloway so I did.

I was so enamored with the idea of being in show business so everything was bright to me. I mean, I didn't think of it as being tough and things like that.

I'm used to hearing myself. My own voice.