In My Early Days I Was A

I've Seen So Much. And I've Heard So Many Great Performers. There Are Performers Now That Couldn't Work Back In The Days When I Came Along.

Malcolm X Made Me Very Strong At A Time I Needed To Understand What I Was Angry About. He Had Peace In His Heart. He Exerted A Big Influence On Me.

The Naked Female Body Is Treated So Weirdly In Society. It's Like People Are Constantly Begging To See It, But Once They Do, Someone's A Hoe.

Count Basie Isn't Just A Man, Or Even Just A Band. He's A Way Of Life.

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].