Yeah man, Harry Belafonte, Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls - from the popular era. From the rhythm and blues era, Nat King Cole. I grew up on Sinatra and those guys. Those guys were good singers. I don't think there are many good singers today.
Various techniques have developed, people use less effort in their - things.
But real singing I used to be inspired by the Platters, the Drifters. The Paragons were like a Jamaican Drifters. When I was listening as a child I was influenced by Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, but when I realised singing might be a way of life, it was easy to start rehearsing Drifters songs, Impressions songs, Temptations songs. So I wouldn't put my influence down to any individual. I would say for whatever reason I was born with this musical talent, it was nurtured, fostered and inspired by the periods of my life.