I have to say I have never been comfortable with somebody else telling me what to do - in any way.

Most artists try to avoid cliches, but it's pretty hard to avoid them if you yourself end up being one.

I returned to upstate NY where I just laid in bed for days with a fever that just wouldn't go away. After more of this, I grew increasingly sure that this was not simply the flu!

What I do isn't black music, it's just my music.

If you work hard and you're good, you can build something for yourself.

Like all soul singers, I grew up singing in church but sometimes I would leave early and sit in the car listening to gospel band, The Blind Boys of Alabama. Hearing their lead singer Clarence made me connect the idea of church and show business and see how I could make a career singing music that stirred the soul.

I was very inspired by my mother. She was a vocal teacher and sang in a band, and my first memories of her were going out with her on the local circuit.