Inspiration

Etta James

Don’t even really know where to begin here. Etta is my absolute favorite artist. It’s the way she makes you feel when she sings. Every note is sung with conviction, she lays it all out on the stage. It’s more than just her voice its everything she puts behind it, everything she’s gone through is reflected in her music. Let this video explain it for me.

Mavis Staples

Mavis has a voice like no other. Deep, soulful, she has a natural gravel that you just don’t hear. Her message has always been simple, “Make the world a better place through songs.” Having seen her live, I can tell you, you can hear that in her songs and feel it in your heart when you hear her sing.

Aretha Franklin

She makes every note in her ridiculous range seem effortless. She really is the “Queen of Soul.” Her voice was not only declared a “natural resource” in Michigan, but she was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is a pioneer in so many ways, not just in music.

Amy Winehouse

As a lover of not only jazz standards but the girl groups from the ’50s and ’60s, Amy successfully captured the essence of this music and fused lyrics that were relevant today to create incredible projects that everyone could enjoy.  She had a lot to write about, and I am thankful for the amazing music she blessed us with while she was here.

Gladys Knight

Gladys is a powerful soul singer known as the “Empress of soul.” “Midnight Train to Georgia” is one of my favorite songs, and I fell in love with her voice ever since. Another inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she is an incredible singer that I love listening to and echoing in my music.

Sugar Pie Desanto

You can’t watch more than 3 seconds of this video and tell me you don’t automatically love her! She is so much fun to watch, and her facial expressions keep everyone captivated. She is a spitfire, that commands the stage even today!

Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan is a truly dynamic singer. She has a classic and timeless voice that even Miles Davis said, “She [Chaka] sings like my horn.” She is an inspiration and an influence for so many across several genres.