I just had a wonderful life, and I couldn't ask for anything else.

I'm just singing what I feel in my heart.

Well Lord, I'm still on the case. I'm still doing what Dr. King and Pops want me to do. I'm still on that freedom highway, and I'm going to walk on it until Dr. King's dream is realized.

If I wasn't my age, I would turn a flip. I would do some cartwheels. That's how I feel.

My uncle was 16, in junior high, and he heard me singing and snatched me off the stage. I thought he was happy and was going to pat me on the head and say I was good. But he took me home and told my grandmother this youngin' was at school singing the blues.

One day, when I was about eight years old, some kids pushed me on stage at school during a talent show because they knew I could sing.

I'm so blessed that I can still be here to bring the music and have new generations of fans. My Pops would be so proud.