I think we musicians are emissaries. Every time we go before the public, we're there to make converts. We can either be ugly and contemptuous in our behavior, which will turn people off, or else we can carry ourselves with dignity and pride.

I've always known I was gifted, which is not the easiest thing in the world for a person to know, because you're not responsible for your gift, only for what you do with it.

Who ever walked behind anyone to freedom? If we can't go hand in hand, I don't want to go.

I think we musicians are emissaries. Every time we go before the public, we're there to make converts. We can either be ugly and contemptuous in our behavior, which will turn people off, or else we can carry ourselves with dignity and pride.

If you reach for something and find out it's the wrong thing, you change your program and move on.

I have always respected everyone's religion. As I say, there is only one God and a lot of confused people.

Any woman who has a great deal to offer the world is in trouble. And if she's a black woman, seh's in deep trouble.