Blues are the songs of despair, but gospel songs are the songs of hope.

The old Devil gets mad when you're trying to do good. Pray that God will move the stumbling blocks.

When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what's wrong.

Baby, black promoters oppressed me before white promoters ever got hold of me. Don't talk skin to me.

Sometimes you ask God for something and you don't know what you're asking.

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.

One thing about playing the real jazz is that you can't count it.