"I extract what I consider the best material from different sources. But often the material I perform comes from a very strange location in history, which are minstrel shows"

Leon Redbone's quote talks to his imaginative process as a musician. He is claiming that he takes inspiration from a variety of resources, however frequently finds himself attracted to the product from minstrel shows. This is a reference to the 19th century American home entertainment type, which included white performers in blackface, vocal singing and executing in a funny and typically disparaging manner. Redbone is most likely describing the fact that he discovers the music from this era to be of a high quality, regardless of its debatable nature. He is also most likely recommending that he has the ability to take this material as well as utilize it in a way that is respectful and purposeful. This quote talks with Redbone's ability to take something that is commonly viewed as offensive and also use it to produce something gorgeous.