That [traveling] was the best part of my career . . . Going [to Europe] and making it . . . It changed my world. I have fans all over the world. I get letters from all over the world . . . [I felt] like I was a superstar. Like I was
Josephine Baker or
Billie Holiday. [European fans] embraced me overnight. All of a sudden I was famous there. They let you do what you want, they gave you freedom, they paid you more, put you in first-class hotels.