nan king cole and johnny math th this.stage, my style was closer to nat's because i idolized him. some people said -- to me, i am fabulous. it's because of nat king cole. and all the singers in the show i paid tribute to. lina horn who was to me the ultimate. you can't -- i mean, when i saw lina and her music, that's the greatest performance i ever saw. that's the most perfect i ever saw her. how she handled the mike, walked to the mike. all those things that you think you know, you see that beyond anything. and then johnny mathis' voice is exceptional and still is exceptional. so we learn from the great people. my father originally said, when you're around those people, you're working with julie garland, ella fitzgerald, you have nothing to say. you say nothing. you sit there and listen. when people come up to me, i was just in atlanta. maurice, you're fabulous. yes, i am, because i listen to them. because without the ellas and linas and people we knew, my god. we don't come out the wound knowing. the kids today seem to t

tony bennett, nat king cole, johnny mathis... ♪ it's not for me to say you love... ♪ bing crosby, patsy

it would have been really neat if i could've gotten some letters like robert king carter who freed his slaves or edward coles. he comes along later. but jefferson writes, coles is a neighbor. mr. jefferson, i want to free my slaves. and jefferson writes back, it would not be a good idea. coles gets an idea he needs to leave. he moves to the west. he becomes an early governor of illinois. but frees his slaves as they are crossing the ohio river. there were people that did it. here again, i think that letter of edward cole's is beautiful. he really understands that slaves are human beings and entitled to every right a human being has, every natural right, which in the declaration of independence is pretty well specified. it is funny. i think it was samuel johnson that said the people, in england during the revolution, the people most about liberty are the ones that have a width in the other hand and beat the slaves. something to that. >> last question. >> ok. >> what was your thought process collecting these advice letters? also getting the letters. >> you know, there are a lot of letters that should be in thi