I don't like to go to strange places. I was in Italy for about five hours on my way to Africa.

I'm just human, I have faults like anyone

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

As I got older though I wanted a life of my own. The classical training was very demanding and thorough. It was a very sheltered existence. Even though I heard blues and gospel on the radio sometimes, it was always back to the piano and study and give recitals.

I was always a politician from the day the civil rights people chose me as their protest singer.

I demand perfection in what I do, and I practice very hard before I give a concert-sometimes three to six hours a day.

Life is short. People are not easy to know. They're not easy to know, so if you don't tell them how you feel, you're not going to get anywhere, I feel.