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

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

Among Negroes it is a bad omen when someone knocks on the door of a house where a person has died.

I wondered what I would do if I didn't have my God to turn to and be able to read the Book He had divinely inspired.

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

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

I could always open shows, perform through the middle, and close shows.