Time is important to me because I want to sing long enough to leave a message. I'm used to singing in churches where nobody would dare stop me until the Lord arrives!

The mind and the voice by themselves are not sufficient.

If you want me to sing this Christmas song with the feeling and the meaning, you better see if you can locate that check.

Do you know most of the Jewish songs have the same trend of sadness as Negro spirituals?

It is easy to be independent when you've got money. But to be independent when you haven't got a thing, that's the Lord's test.

Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.

When you are through with the blues, you've got nothing to rest on.