"I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show. My life has been my music, my life has been my people. And my people is music."

"I don't know nothing about music. I just play by ear."

"I think I'm a jazz musician. I don't know what else I am."

"The way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell."

"I believe in the power of music to bring people together."