I was a guinea pig for some hoodlums who thought they could hurt me and frighten me and keep other Negro entertainers from the South.

Madison Avenue is afraid of the dark.

I'm not playing for other musicians. We're trying to reach the guy who works all day and wants to spend a buck at night. We'll keep him happy.

I got the message. All of us get the message, sooner or later. If you get it before it's too late or before you're too old, you'll pull through all right.

I'm an interpreter of stories. When I perform it's like sitting down at my piano and telling fairy stories.

Get me well so I can get on television and tell people to stop smoking.

I am famous because I am an African American jazz artist.