It may be that my most helpful contributions to music aren't my compact discs but my articles about other great singers of the past for American Heritage magazine.

I'm very happy to have a small, long, career instead of one big hit and then oblivion.

Somebody called me a 'bruised romantic' once, and I like that.

I have complete artistic control, and I just do my best album every time and trust it to fate.

I worry about kids and all they are exposed to. Kids get so bombarded with hard, commercial sounds. They don't even have a chance to develop the softer part of themselves without fear of being ridiculed.

Thank God for beautiful songs about feeling despair when you yourself are in despair. They really get us through.

If you sing honestly and sincerely to kids, they will respond with all their hearts.