I want to sing like Aretha Franklin. Before her I wanted the technical ability of Ella Fitzgerald.

It's ill-becoming for an old broad to sing about how bad she wants it. But occasionally we do.

I know I'm not going to sing like Aretha Franklin or Elvis Presley or any of those people.

Malcolm X raised my consciousness about myself and my people and other people more than any person I know. I knew him before he became Malcolm X.

I don't have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I'd become. I'm me, and I'm like nobody else.

To me, R&B means Aretha Franklin, who is otherworldly.