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

I don't like rap music at all. I don't think it's music. It's just a beat and rapping.

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

I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about... Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.

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

There are all kinds of things that can be done. You can change rhythms, you can change chords, you can change whole concepts. But it will only work, on a record or in a performance, if you can make the people buy it.

I tell you what freedom is to me: no fear.