I cant retire from music any more than I can retire from my liver. Youd have to remove the music from me surgically—like you were taking out my appendix.

I heard someone say that all black people got rhythm. Bullshit.

I sing what I sing true. Each night I sing it the way I feel that night.

It's like Duke Ellington said, there are only two kinds of music - good and bad. And you can tell when something is good.

What makes my approach special is that I do different things. I do jazz, blues, country music and so forth. I do them all, like a good utility man.

I can't help what I sound like. What I sound like is what i am. You know? I cannot be anything other that what I am.

Just because you can't see anything , doesn't mean you should shut your eyes.