I've been speaking at churches for years, as well as juvenile jails, rehabs and hospitals, and I always talk about my faith. That is a declaration of my relationship with God

People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell a joke or two Although I might be laughing loud and hearty Deep inside I'm blue So take a good look at my face You'll see my smile looks out of place If you look closer, it's easy to trace The tracks of my tears.

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.

I love hearing my music, I love hearing it by other people. I hope it will always be played.

Songwriting is my gift from God

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.

As a kid, this is what I wanted my life to be. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever dare to dream that it would be this.