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.

I'm old enough to be Obama's grandmom. But I still like seeing good-looking things. Nothing wrong with that.

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.

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

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.

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

I never sang for a Grammy, for money, for fame. That's my whole purpose for singing: for people, for the fans.