Whenever somebody tells me they want me to stop singing, I'm gone.

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

My voice is my gift. And Pops had me using it in the right way. I had many offers to sing pop, to sing rhythm and blues. Pops said "Mavis, this record company want to give you a million dollars." I said, "No daddy, I want to sing with the family." And I did. I never wanted to branch out by myself. But I've had to now. It's my mission. I've been left here to do it. And I'm grateful.

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.

We stay strong. We stay positive, keep our heads up, love one another, spread love. The Devil can't win when you have God on your side.

There is a great feeling in a small venue, with the closeness of the people and the intimacy.

I would get in fights a lot. My voice was so heavy, kids would say you sound like a boy, so I would start beating them up.