Etta James

“A lot of people think that the blues is depressing, but that's not the case at all. The blues is about getting it all out.”

“You can't fake this music. You might be a great singer or a great musician but, in the end, that's got nothing to do with it. It's how you connect to the songs and to the history behind them.”

“I have a mean temper.”

“At last, my love has come along. My lonely days are over and life is like a song.”

“I wanna show that gospel, country, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll are all just really one thing. Those are the American music and that is the American culture.”

“I sing the songs that people need to hear.”

“What happens is, when I perform, I'm somewhere else. I go back in time and get in touch with who I really am. I forget the troubles, the worries.”

“I was a rebellious child.”

“The blues is my business and business is good.”

“I'm not a jazz singer, but I can sing jazz.”

“I can be a real stinker sometimes.”

“I'd rather be a-walking, than a-flying through the air.”

“My mother always told me, 'Even if a song has been done a thousand times, you can still bring something of your own to it.' I'd like to think I've done that.”