I'm not afraid to die. I'm looking forward to it. I know the Lord has His arms wrapped around this big sparrow.

There was one emotional outlet my people always had when they had the blues. That was singing.

Mom never quit on me. My only regret is that she didn't live long enough to share some of the money and comforts my work in show business has brought me.

I could depend a lot on my shaking, though I never shimmied vulgarly and only to express myself.

I had a probing mind and an elephant memory.

I wanted to be with the kind of people I'd grown up with, but you can't go back to them and be one of them again, no matter how hard you try.

My whole family could sing. My family harmonized without any instruments to accompany them.