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

I think the rich will eventually have to cave in too, because the economic situation around the world is not gonna tolerate the United States being on top forever.

My people have very subtle slang, inflections and ways of saying things that has little to do with words. If you're from the same place, you'll feel the jargon and know exactly what's happening. Same with any neighborhood cat. What he sees and hears and feels and lives makes him what he is. That's what blues is.

To be young, gifted and black!

It's time to take a look at my failures and stop calling them successes. Now I can start working at something that can use me best.

If I get an idea I put it on tape and somebody else writes it out.

I'm just human, I have faults like anyone