My mom told us that we should have good shoes, a good suit, and a watch, so I was running around at age 10 looking like a little old man. But somehow I grew to understand that a watch is a representation of myself, of my culture, taste, awareness and aesthetic.

I'm just an old man looking after cemeteries,

It's crazy: the first black man to actually step foot in America came as a free man, as an explorer, with the Spaniards. That's something for me - as a black American, it gives me a little bit of pride because we were free and respected somewhere else before slavery became what it was.

Old age is the most unexpected of all the things that can happen to a man.

I'm a perfect example of the grumpy, old man. I'm really good at it.

I don't want to be the oldest performer in captivity... I don't want to look like a little old man dancing out there.