My mother always wanted me to be a jazz singer, but I always wanted to be raunchy.

Long as I was riding in a big Cadillac and dressed nice and had plenty of food, that's all I cared about.

It's the same thing now. When I go onstage the young people scream and holler as much as the older generation.

I talked to the record company about what I had in mind. They said they wanted something lush. I figured the best thing to do was let them hear what I had in mind.

Most of the songs I sing have that blues feeling in it. They have that sorry feeling. And I don't know what I'm sorry about. I don't.

All the things I used to like - cookies, ice cream, gumbo - I don't like anymore.

I was a sloppy kid, wanted to be just wild.

I'm not starry eyed, and I'm not money crazy.

My mother was a jazz fanatic and she wanted me to play the piano so I could play jazz tunes. I wish I had learned but I was too busy getting into trouble!

Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude.

I am so happy that I am alive and can walk.

I was originally like a punker, know what I mean, like the punks are today, I'd spit in a minute.

See, I don't like places where people can't dance - don't like clubs or theatres where a bunch of bourgeois people sit around tip, tip, tipping their fingers.

I sing the songs that people need to hear.

People that can't stand to listen to the blues, they've got to be phonies.

I'm not a bourgeois person, never will be.

When I look out at the people and they look at me and they're smiling, then I know that I'm loved. That is the time when I have no worries, no problems.