I felt trapped and fabricated in the fifties living up to other people's expectations.

So you see, you can't do everything alone.

I'll keep working as long as I live because singing has taken on the feeling of joy that I had when I started, when my only responsibility was to sing well.

No matter how great a man is, the size of his funeral usually depends on the weather.

When Bob came through Cincinnati, he wanted a girl singer to be on his show. There was a local contest, and my sister and I entered, but Bob said, Gee, I wouldn't break up the team.

I loved downers, almost any kind. Loved the colors of them. Loved them yellow... I did. I would just have a bouquet in my hands at night.

I'm the only instrument that's got the words, so I've got to be able to get that across.

I remember Mitch Miller saying every week, This rock and roll stuff will never last. But one doesn't like to bring that up to Mitch.

What I saw was just one eyeIn the dawn as I was going:A bird can carry all the skyIn that little button glowing.Never in my life I wentSo deep into the firmament.

You had better be ready to change your mind when needed.

Love's a thin Diet, nor will keep out Cold.

It's not a certain technique, it's not a skillit's all in your mind, it's how far you want to go

When someone is in a car accident and they're driving at 100 mph, drunk, who's tape do you think his listening to at that time? Think about it.

I am not a veteran environmentalist. I don't live in a house made of recycled tires, I've never handcuffed myself to a tree, and I don't grow my own organic rutabaga.

I'm an indestructible master of war.

Around middle school I studied jazz guitar and ended up playing in a jazz band for a bit. But, after high school, I haven't even touched a guitar.

I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be when I started

Terrorism is not new to black people.