“It seems like I always had to work harder than other people. Those nights when everybody else is asleep, and you sit in your room trying to play scales.”

A day that I don’t learn something new is a wasted day.

I never use that word, retire.

The way I feel today, as long as my health is good and I can handle myself well and people still come to my concerts, still buy my CDs, I’ll keep playing until I feel like I can’t.

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

I’ve been married twice. Most women would rather not be married to a traveling blues singer.

I don’t think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.

Elvis, he was unique. And he loved the blues, it was a pity he didn’t do more.

May I live forever. But may you live forever and a day.

And as long as people have problems, the blues can never die.

I’m no good with chords. I’m horrible with chords.

Jazz is the big brother of the blues. If a guy’s playing blues like we play, he’s in high school. When he starts playing jazz it’s like going on to college, to a school of higher learning.

Sometimes the proprietors of the little juke joints gave me a couple dollars. I loved that. I’d go back next Saturday.

There are so many sounds I still want to make, so many things I haven’t yet done.

Education is the one thing that no one can take from you.

I do it because I still get a kick out of it. I still love performing. It keeps me young.

A guitar is like an old friend that is there with me.

You are the only real obstacle in your path to fulfilling it.

Do what is easy and your life will be hard. Do what is hard and your life will become easy.

The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.

Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear.

A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.

When people really understand it’s do or die . If we work hard and pull through, it’s going to be a great outcome; people will give it everything they’ve got.

Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn’t matter. Cold or warm.