 Her formative influences came from a diverse group including Dionne Warwick, Julie Andrews, Ella, Sara, and Streisand.Imitating them helped to forge her mixed style of singing, a versatility which turned out to be a curse as well as a blessing.It made it harder to categorize her style in later years in L.A. when record companies were looking for specific marketing hooks for artists, but also, most undoubtedly paved the way for her versatile career.