Mahalia Jackson

“One thing about playing the real jazz is that you can't count it.”

“Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them.”

“My hands, my feet, I throw my whole body to say all that is within me.”

“When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what's wrong.”

“How can you sing of amazing grace and all God's wonders without using your hands?”

“Baby, black promoters oppressed me before white promoters ever got hold of me. Don't talk skin to me.”

“When you are through with the blues, you've got nothing to rest on.”

“Money just draws flies.”

“The trouble with records is that they're too short.”

“Gospel music is nothing but singing of good tidings -- spreading the good news. It will last as long as any music because it is sung straight from the human heart.”

“This is the place to see the stars - Hollywood Bowl.”

“I don't worry too much about the script, I just ad lib, like Pearl Bailey.”

“I'll come to any benefit if I see SCLC get all the money.”

“Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.”

“God can make you anything you want to be, but you have to put everything in his hands.”

“Everybody needs somebody.”

“The mind and the voice by themselves are not sufficient.”

“Without a song, each day would be a century.”

“If you want me to sing this Christmas song with the feeling and the meaning, you better see if you can locate that check.”

“Blues are the songs of despair, but gospel songs are the songs of hope.”