There's a desire in me to express something - to match what I hear in my head.

I have no problem with religion, and I grew up with a strong curiosity about spiritual matters, but my searching took me away from church and community worship to the internal journey. Before my recovery began, I found my God in music and the arts, with writers like Hermann Hesse, and musicians like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter.

When all the original blues guys are gone, you start to realize that someone has to tend to the tradition. I recognize that I have some responsibility to keep the music alive, and it's a pretty honorable position to be in.

In playing, I suppose my greatest gift was to express the way I felt or the willingness to express myself.

It's been up to me to inspire me.

I don't know if I believe in luck. I think I'm very fortunate.

But the guitar, when you think about it, is the most versatile, really. I mean you can pick it up and take it with you wherever you go.