music became my refuge and then my salvation.

In my early days I was a sepia Hedy Lamarr. Now I'm black and a woman, singing my own way.

Always be smarter than the people who hire you.

I don't have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I'd become. I'm me, and I'm like nobody else.

I'm not alone, I'm free. I no longer have to be a credit, I don't have to be a symbol to anybody; I don't have to be a first to anybody.

I'm not a career kind of person. When I saw new music, new trends coming in, I didn't see any place for me. And I didn't think about it as a career loss, because I was married - I have a great- grandchild now. The low points were when I lost people that I really cared about.

Count Basie isn't just a man, or even just a band. He's a way of life.