I lived in a plenty tough neighborhood. When somebody called me a 'dirty little Guinea', there was only one thing to do-break his head. When I got older, I realized that you shouldn't do it that way. I realized that you've got to do it through education. Children are not to blame. It is the parents. How can a child know whether his playmate is an Italian, a Jew or Irish, unless the parents have discussed it in the privacy of their homes.

Rock 'n Roll: The most brutal, ugly, desperate, vicious form of expression it has been my misfortune to hear.

The only male singer who I've seen besides myself and who's better than me--that is Michael Jackson.

A friend to me has no race, no class and belongs to no minority. My friendships were formed out of affection, mutual respect and a feeling of having something strong in common. These are eternal values that cannot be racially classified. This is the way I look at race.

Whatever else has been said about me personally is unimportant. When I sing, I believe. I'm honest.

If I had done everything I'm credited with, I'd be speaking to you from a laboratory jar at Harvard.

If I had as many love affairs as I've been given credit for, I'd be in a jar at the Harvard Medical School.