I Know That My Fans

I'm From A Singing Family, But They're Not Professional Singers, Only Gospel - My Grandfather Was A Minister. I Started To Sing The Music That Was Out Then Because My Mother Used To Play It All The Time. It Was The End Of The '50s, The Beginning Of The '60s. There Was Frankie Lyman And The Teenagers, Etta James... We Used To Sit Outside On The Stoop And Sing. We Even Used To Put Our Radios And Record Players Outside.

I Lived On The North Side Of Detroit. Right Down The Street From Me There Was A Young Man By The Name Of Smokey Robinson. I Was Very Proud To Live Down The Street From Him Because He Was Our Only Celebrity In Town. He Was Singing With The Miracles.

I Am In Prayer For His Kids And The Family.

I Really Don't Think That Detroit Was Any Different Than New York Of Boston Or Philadelphia. Kids Always Wanted To Listen To Music Outside Because That's Where They Hung Out With Their Friends.

I'm Not Really A Songwriter - I'm An Interpreter. So In A Sense I Am An Actress First And Foremost. I Act Out The Songs, And I Lead With My Heart.