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.

It's great to have other people's help. Then the music gets heard. There's a lot more commercial support for that now.

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.

My parents were older than normal when they had me, and had been very into the politics of the 1960s, so I was brought up in that atmosphere.

I was very lucky. Things happened, both bad and good, but I never got into real, deep trouble. But it wore me down. By the time I was 18, I was done. I didn't want to live the life any more. I needed to develop past the point that busking takes you to.

Once I was in the city, I really enjoyed it. Just to experience things. There was so much new stuff.

My father had a varied ear, from Hank Williams to Ravel.