Mom was the greatest influence of my childhood. She wanted to save me from the vice, lust, and drinking that was all about me.

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

Negroes are human beings with exactly the same faults and virtues as members of the other races.

I never accepted the idea that I was all through. I guess no person who has once been a star can do that, ever.

I dressed plain, but my partners were always spending more money on clothes than I could afford.

It has been an ache and a joy both to look over this big shoulder of mine at all my yesterdays.

I've never been able to feel that there is anything undignified about making your living by the sweat of your brow.