I was one of I think three white girls in my school. So, I was very much an outsider. And plus I was Jewish and all of my friends were black and Baptist because they listen to the coolest music. We were all listening to Ray Charles and what was then called race music.

I started 'Society's Child' on a bus in East Orange as I was going home from school. I saw a black and white couple sitting there and started thinking about it.

Those of us with ravaged faces, lacking in the social graces, desperately remained at home, inventing lovers on the phone.

Some people would rather stay ignorant and self-satisfied.

I feel I was born with the music coming to me, and that's not something to be wasted.

There will always be those people who are just backward and ignorant. There will always be those people. They need somebody to feel superior to.

I don't pretend to be an expert on intellectual property law, but I do know one thing. If a music industry executive claims I should agree with their agenda because it will make me more money, I put my hand on my walletand check it after they leave, just to make sure nothing's missing.