I Don't Have To Be An Imitation

You Wouldn't Be Allowed To Get On A Particular Bus, But You'd Be Asked To Sign Your Autograph.

I'm Not A Career Kind Of Person. When I Saw New Music, New Trends Coming In, I Didn't See Any Place For Me. And I Didn't Think About It As A Career Loss, Because I Was Married - I Have A Great- Grandchild Now. The Low Points Were When I Lost People That I Really Cared About.

I Had My Schooling Right There In The Cotton Club.

I'm Still Learning, You Know. At 80, I Feel There Is A Lot I Don't Know.

I Learned From Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, Adelaide Hall, The Nicholas Brothers, The Whole Thing, The Whole Schmear. [the Cotton Club] Was A Great Place Because It Hired Us, For One Thing, At A Time When It Was Really Rough [for Black Performers].