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There were times I thought I was going to turn to the blues, but then I'd hear better blues players.

The blues is like a planet. It's an enormous topic. You can't ignore the impact that it has had and continues to have on the whole musical culture. It's a tree that everyone is swinging from. Without it, I don't know where I would be. It's indelible and indispensable.

I love blues. My grandfather did blues.

Hearing the blues changed my life.

I don't try to just be a blues singer - I try to be an entertainer. That has kept me going.

I realized I was tired of singing about trees and flowers. I wanted to sing about real life. From then on, nobody could tell me anything was better than blues.

I still like to play the blues more than anything else.

I've always tried to defend the idea that the blues doesn't have to be sung by a person who comes from Mississippi, as I did.

Blues is a tonic for whatever ails you. I could play the blues and then not be blue anymore.

Without the blues, modern music would be nothing like it is now - not remotely.