Question:  Beverley Knight MBE is an English recording artist heavily influenced by an American singer, songwriter, and what?

Context articles: Down for the One
The B-Funk
Mutual Feeling
Sam Cooke
Prodigal Sista
Flavour of the Old School
Beverley Knight
Who I Am (Beverley Knight album)
Voice – The Best of Beverley Knight
Antoni Egea

"Down for the One" is the second single released by English singer and songwriter Beverley Knight.
 The track peaked at #55 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in August 1995, and received support from urban radio.
The B-Funk is the debut studio album by the British R&B and soul recording artist and songwriter Beverley Knight, released on 26 November 1995 by Dome Records.
"Mutual Feeling" is the fifth single released by the British R&B recording artist Beverley Knight from her debut album "The B-Funk" (1995).
 The track, which peaked at #124 on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in 1996, did not have a promotional video made to accompany it and remains Knight's second lowest charting single to date in the UK, after "After You".
Samuel Dale "Sam" Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), was an American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur.
Prodigal Sista is the second studio album by British R&B singer and songwriter Beverley Knight released in August 1998.
 The album was the first to be released by Knight under her new contract with Parlophone Records, with whom she had signed a four album deal with in 1997 after leaving her previous label, Dome Records .
 The lyrics on the album were written entirely by Knight (with the exception of "Sista Sista" which was co-written with Hawk Wolinski), as was the creation of melodies and vocal arrangements.
'"Flavour of the Old School"' is a song by British R&B recording artist Beverley Knight, released as her debut single from her debut "The B-Funk" (1995).
 The track, which peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in March 1995, was accompanied by a low budget music video that saw Knight in the recording studio singing directly into the camera.
 It was re-released however in October 1995, supported by a new video and strong support from urban radio.
 The song went on to become Knight's first top 40 single, peaking at number thirty-three in the official UK Singles Chart.
 The song later reappeared on the b-side of Knight's 1999 single "Made it Back".
 The video is frequently shown in rotation on MTV Base.
Beverley Knight MBE (born Beverley Anne Smith on 22 March 1973) is an English recording artist, radio presenter and musical theatre actress who released her debut album, "The B-Funk", in 1995.
 Heavily influenced by American soul music icons such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released eight studio albums to date.
 Widely labelled as one of Britain's greatest soul singers, Knight is best known for her hit singles "Greatest Day", "Get Up!
", "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" and "Come as You Are".
Who I Am is the third studio album by British recording artist and songwriter Beverley Knight on 29 March 2002 by Parlophone/EMI Records.
 It entered the UK albums chart at #7 and remains her highest charting album to date.
 It went on to be certified Gold by the BPI.
Voice – The Best of Beverley Knight is the first greatest hits album by British R&B recording artist and songwriter Beverley Knight, released in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2006 by Parlophone.
 The collection includes twelve UK Top 40 singles, including the newly recorded track and single "Piece of My Heart".
 The album also includes a second new track co-written with and produced by Chris Braide entitled "Who's Gonna Save Your Soul" and two live tracks.
Antoni Egea (1938 in Alicante – July 1977 in Vallgorguina) was a contemporary Spanish artist.
 He began his career as an artist heavily influenced by Arte Povera.
 He studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Barcelona.
 At that time he made several drawings with wax, sand and other types of clays or even scrap, incorporating other waste materials found on the streets.