What are two musical influences on Billie singing style?

* Early jazz vocalists. Billie Holiday was heavily influenced by the jazz vocalists of the 1920s and 1930s, such as Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. She studied their recordings and learned how to use their techniques to create her own unique style.

* Traditional blues. Billie Holiday was also influenced by traditional blues music. She grew up listening to the blues singers in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, and she incorporated many of their elements into her own music. This influence can be heard in her vocal phrasing, her use of vibrato, and her emotional interpretations of songs.