I've always loved singing. I find it exhilarating.

I had my guitar and some talent so that I could make friends with intelligent people and could talk my way out of difficult situations.

I love playing to people and seeing them react.

I was just learning to play guitar when Tracy Chapman came out. She wrote these songs, she played them by herself and I so admired her for that.

The wonderful thing about Jazz is its willingness to take chances.

I think I was probably an early teenager when I discovered Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and a bunch of people that are on a long list of artists. They were important to me, especially as an early adolescent.

Seeing how those companies operate, it didn't amount to a massive vote of confidence in their artists. There was talk of me going to Columbia after that, but nothing happened. I got disillusioned, and I pulled back.