I'm sorry that I did not become the world's first black classic pianist. I think I would have been happier.

My job is not done. I address my songs now to the third world. I am popular all over Asia and Africa and the Middle East, not to speak of South Africa, where I'm trying to go to see Nelson Mandela.

Everything that happened to me as a child involved music. It was part of everyday life, as automatic as breathing.

Music is a gift and a burden I've had since I can remember who I was.

The worst thing about that kind of prejudice... is that while you feel hurt and angry and all the rest of it, it feeds you self-doubt. You start thinking, perhaps I am not good enough.

It doesn't matter to me what is going on today because my music encompasses every kind of mood that exists in human beings. That's my stick.

Every day has its emotional difficulties. I miss my mother whether I'm singing her music or not.