My mother was a churchgoing lady, so I always heard about God at home

My uncle Claude was my favorite uncle he was also my godfather. He and I were really, really close. He used to take me to see cowboy movies all the time when I was a little boy because I loved cowboy movies. He got a cowboy name for me, which was Smokey Joe. So from the time I was three years old if people asked me what my name was I didn't tell them my name was William, I told them my name was Smokey Joe.

If I just gave you a piece of paper with the lyrics written down on it, it would mean something to you. It would tell you a story.

Before you ask some girl for her hand now, keep your freedom for as long as you can now. My Mama told me, you better shop around.

That's what love is made of, snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails, sugar, spice, and everything nice.

One thing I can say about the Motown acts is that we were a family. That's not a myth

Even if I don't release it myself, somebody else might hear it and want to record it. When you write a song, it gives it that potential.