I used to be wary of crowds, Lulu Devine said in an interview conducted in 1993. “I would walk through an airport and think people were scowling or snickering and it would bother me. Now, if I see them staring or talking, I go over, introduce myself and shake their hands. I love fans. If they’re fortunate, I will hit them with my melons!

“I used to party quite a bit, but I stopped doing that to take my business seriously. You have to look good and feel good. Partying doesn’t go too well with work. Plus, I’ve had enough parties to last a lifetime. I’m fortunate that I’ve had a lot of good happen to me and I’ve learned a lot about life. There’s still a lot to learn, because life is just that, a learning process, but I’ve become a happy person. I’m not any angel, because I still do bitch and moan a lot, but every day is Christmas to me and, with each morning, the presents get better and better.”