Don't try to be just like some other singer hitting it big - find your own style and be honest in your performances. And never underestimate your audience.

I know the history of the record business so well because I followed Billie Holiday into the record studios. It was so primitive compared to the sophisticated business today.

I think if you have a passion for what you do then there are no limitations on how long or how much you can accomplish.

I am very much inspired by the great masters of entertainment: Bob Hope, George Burns, Jimmy Durante - who never thought about retiring. When people ask me if I plan to retire, I say, "Retire to what? I am doing what I love best right now!"

You can't teach it [jazz singing]. There's nobody who can teach you how to sing jazz. Either you know how to sing jazz, or you don't.

The bottom line of any country is: what did we contribute to the world? We contributed Louis Armstrong.

I think one of the reasons I'm popular again is because I'm wearing a tie. You have to be different.