The blues has been the foundation of all other American music since the beginning.

The blues will always be because the blues are the roots of all American music.

I hadn't been exposed to music except in church. They used to have me singing a solo when I was five years old.

The blues is the roots, the rest is the fruits.

I don't want you to cook my bread, I don't want you to make my bed. I don't want you to because I'm sad and blue, I just want to make love to you.

The world has made everything else and still it can't make peace. And the reason it can't make peace is because of the evil, ignorance and stupidity. I have songs that explain these facts. And that's the blues.

It could be a spoonful of diamonds, could be a spoonful of gold. Just a little spoon of your precious love satisfies my soul.