I definitely did look up to John. We all looked up to John. He was older and he was very much the leader; he was the quickest wit and the smartest.

My stepmother sold my birth certificate and someone asked why I didn't buy it back. I don't know, really. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It was mine. It cost me nothing and suddenly I had to buy it back.

When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted to be was Elvis Presley.

Every time I felt low, I just put on an Elvis record and I'd feel great, beautiful.

I love to hear a choir. I love the humanity... to see the faces of real people devoting themselves to a piece of music. I like the teamwork. It makes me feel optimistic about the human race when I see them cooperating like that.

And I loved Fats Waller. I love his instrumental abilities, his vocal abilities and his sense of humor.