I'm proud of the way I rearrange and put things together, like a chef who makes a great meal, or a filmmaker who puts together a story - it's casting, editing, cinematography.

I'm honored when young people say they've gone to school on slide guitar with my records. But people get their influence from my live shows and records and YouTube, not me personally. I walk around with a hat on. People don't know it's me.

Im happy to say that at 62, I think Ive reached that point where stuff doesnt bother me as much, and my gratitude level has gone way up, especially having gone through the loss that Ive had, and losing so many of the great artists that I was close to. They taught me how to see it with a grain of salt and a lot of humor and perspective.

One of the things that I'm glad about, though, is that regular people can relate to me.

I speak my mind and come from a place of conscience, as well as have fun as a musician.

I finally learned to accept that I can't make radio play blues any more than I could get Reagan out of the White House.

I just want to be as good a person as I can be.