Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who admired Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin.

It's time to start all over/make a new beginning.

Why do babies starve /When there's enough food to feed the world /Why when there's so many of us /Are there people still alone

Now love's the only thing that's free /We must take it where it's found /Pretty soon it may be costly

My older sister encouraged me from early on and bought me one of the first guitars I had. She listened to all of the crappy songs that I wrote when I was 8 years old and encouraged me to keep doing it.

I end up writing about all kinds of things. I never make an attempt to write about anything in particular. I don't have a little list of topics to write about.

I don't want someone to squeeze me, that might take away my life. Just want someone to hold me, and we'll rock through the night.