There was a train that would come by our house every night, and I'd hear the whistle blow. That is the sweetest memory I have.

I was never interested in singing in the church or school. I was more interested in becoming a musician.

Being black, I'm involved in the reparations movement. It's focused toward the African-American audience. We could begin to heal.

I know you're supposed to set goals for yourself. I see all that motivational stuff on television. Think about the future, what's next! But I'm all into the journey. It's fascinating to me. So if I make certain what I want moment to moment, I'm cool at the crossroads.

I cringed when I heard myself described as a Jazz singer. I've always thought of myself as a Jazz vocalist.

My grandmother sang, too, and she was really loud. It was this wild kind of singing. I count her among my influences.

There was a train that would come by our house every night, and I'd hear the whistle blow. That is the sweetest memory I have.