I applied for a scholarship to Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. I knew I was good enough, but they turned me down. And it took me about six months to realize it was because I was black. I never really got over that jolt of racism at the time.

I feel more alive now than I ever have in my life. I have a chance to live, as I've dreamed.

What kept me sane was knowing that things would change, and it was a question of keeping myself together until they did.

Tomorrow, I might be in a different mood and you wouldn't recognize my voice.

I only knew classical music, which to me was the only true music. The only way I could survive at the bar was to mix the classical music with popular songs, and that meant I had to sing. What happened was that I discovered I had a voice plus the talent to mix classical music together with more popular songs, which at the time I detested.

Anything human can be felt through music, which means that there is no limit to the creating that can be done with music. You can take the same phrase from any song and cut it up so many different ways - it's infinite. It's like God... you know?

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