Musician

Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.

Anybody that sings the blues is in a deep pit, yelling for help.

My hands, my feet, I throw my whole body to say all that is within me.

One thing about playing the real jazz is that you can't count it.

Do you know most of the Jewish songs have the same trend of sadness as Negro spirituals?

They thought I was a success as soon as I started paying the bills.

The old Devil gets mad when you're trying to do good. Pray that God will move the stumbling blocks.

Everybody needs somebody.

The Lord doesn't like us to be dead. Be alive. Sometimes I dance to the glory of the Lord, because He said so.

Time is important to me because I want to sing long enough to leave a message. I'm used to singing in churches where nobody would dare stop me until the Lord arrives!

Money just draws flies.

The trouble with records is that they're too short.

I'll come to any benefit if I see SCLC get all the money.

If you believe in God, He will open the windows of heaven and pour blessings upon you.

When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what's wrong.

Sometimes you ask God for something and you don't know what you're asking.

It is easy to be independent when you've got money. But to be independent when you haven't got a thing, that's the Lord's test.

You're blessed if you have the strength to work.

I don't worry too much about the script, I just ad lib, like Pearl Bailey.

I close my eyes when I sing so I can feel the song better.