Alberta Hunter

“When you are not chirping, you are dead.”

“My mother told me two things. One was to be a lady and the other was to be independent.”

“You're never too old to do what you want to do.”

“I never think about age. I just do my job. If I can’t do it, I quit.”

“To me, the blues are almost a religion. It's like the songs of Zion.”

“I'm going to sing the blues and I'm going to make you like it.”

“The audience is my life. They are my blood.”

“God gives you a gift, and it's up to you to use it.”

“I'm a good example of what a person can do if they just keep on trying.”

“Got the 'Downhearted Blues,' gee, but I'm feelin' bad. Got the 'Downhearted Blues,' the worst old feelin' I ever had.”

“You can’t do good work if you’re not choosing your own music. You have to be able to do what you want.”

“Honey, I'm a show.”