I was born in Alabama and my first live music experiences were in church. Every Sunday we watched regional gospel groups on television singing their hearts out

When I was a kid, I liked the newer music that was coming out. I have never really felt confined by any style of music. I would play in bands that were soul bands or that played standards - any kind of music that I enjoyed playing.

As a solo artist, I just felt cemented in front of the mike stand. There was very little time to play with the audience and be a band member

Around '75 when the recession hit, club owners started going to disco because it was cheaper for them to just buy a sound system than it was to hire a band.

We're kind of defined by our mistakes

When I became 16 I started thinking seriously about singing.

There were some older guitarists on my side of town, and I got to know many of them