I am saying voluntarily that I have sung for almost every religious group in the country, from Jewish and Catholic, and Presbyterian and Holy Rollers and Revival Churches.

I have three adopted children with Phil, and for years I was fighting in court with him over being able to see my kids. I was always going back and forth to California, going to...

We all want heroes and we all want somebody to look up to.

I started rapping because I wanted people to hear what I have to say, I want as many people to hear me as possible, and I do everything in my power to make that pop.

My Dad died during the flu epidemic in 1918 when I was 4 years old. He left a lot of classical recordings behind that I began listening to at an early age, so he must...

Music has always been transnational; people pick up whatever interests them, and certainly a lot of classical music has absorbed influences from all over the world.

If somebody says they really like my playing I say thanks a lot.

I see myself as sexy. If you are comfortable with it, it can be very classy and appealing.

I think that it can be said of a lot of artists, and myself included, that we made the same record over and over from the beginning.

Just because you like my stuff doesn’t mean I owe you anything.

A song is anything that can walk by itself.

I want my permanent address to be in Oklahoma. Someday, when I get married and I have kids, that’s where I want to raise my kids.

A friend is not only someone who you can confide in, it is someone who can mirror the trust you have shown by confiding in you as well.

Lady Limelight is a jealous lady. She wants all of your attention. You don’t have any time to think of anything else but Lady Limelight, because pretty soon that light will be shinning on somebody...

I think the drummer should sit back there and play some drums, and never mind about the tunes. Just get up there and wail behind whoever is sitting up there playing the solo. And this...

I organized Sweet Honey In The Rock in 1973. The music was sanity and balance.

Any band that is out there chasing it is doing more destruction to music then someone who is out there playing what they truly feel.

If you want to be a doctor, a lawyer you must go to college. But if you want to be a musician or such, study your craft. Study music.

I wish I was a little more gregarious and outgoing.

If everybody gets in there and sees that and understands that, then it lets them know that they’re all human beings and creatures of God.

The things that got me through grade school are helping me out later in life. It’s like, I show up on time. If you buy a ticket to one of my shows, I’ll show up....

Exactly, especially when you’re talking about a music where you can do just about anything. We can talk about just about anything lyrically.

Death is an awful thing. I don’t believe in it myself.

That was the biggest thrill, going over to these guy’s houses and having them want me to practice with them and they would show me a lot of stuff, which was really advanced stuff to...

A good country song takes a page out of somebody’s life and puts it to music.

I hope I didn’t bore you too much with my life story.

The colored folks been singing it and playing it just like I’m doin’ now, man, for more years than I know. I got it from them.

I began hearing rumors of apossible recording session with Neil Young. I was a huge fan of Neil’s.

We thought that’s the way you were supposed to be if you were in a rock ‘n’ roll band. Flamboyant.

We went to Big Sur about three years ago and hung out at the Esalen Institute.

With or without a Social Security fix, Americans don’t have enough assets to retire on. There has to be a much larger debate.

It sounds really stupid, I hate making cosmic comments like this but, I just let it do what it wants to do.

No, I’ve heard over the years that it’s nice for them to see somebody who’s like, you know, a well-known successful musician who’s Asian. I’ve heard it from a few musicians, too.

I’m proud of being part Cherokee, and I think it’s time all us Indians felt the same way.

I won all the blue ribbons for canning at the state fair.

Who wants to be married to a grandfather?

My love life doesn’t stink; it’s nonexistent.

My drum sticks are in the “Hall of Fame.” I know that.

When I’m at home I practice everyday.

But in those days – in the mid-’50s, early ’60s – there was less than 300 radio stations that were playing country music and a lot of that wasn’t full time.

My talent for playing the drums was a gift from God.

It can get a little costly if you try and leave it until then to write songs. But you’re writing all the time. You’re collecting songs. I’ve had songs that have been collected over a...

Geez, I wish I could tell you I had a whole bunch of ’80s hair bands, you know something you really wouldn’t expect, but I don’t know that the music police would be that surprised,...

I’m not unknown, yet I’m not super famous where I can’t go anywhere.

I definitely feel we’re moving forward. There’s a lot more understanding… there’s less fear and we’re working on there being less hatred.

If I did any movies I’d have to take a break from singing, because I’d want it to be really good.

Where I grew up in Dallas, things might be a little more traditional. People have the same things in mind. They’re supposed to grow up, go to college, get a job, get married, and have...

With a lot of hair and make-up then I’m possibly, remotely attractive. But it’s rare, I don’t think I’m ugly but I’m nothing particularly special. I’m not a yoga and health girl. I don’t exercise...

The saddest songs are written when a person is happy.

Elvis walked over and signed a few autographs over the fence. They were screaming. I had never seen this.