Interesting thread. I have been incredibly lucky in that most of my influences have become good friends. Gordeanna Mc Culloch,Heather Heywood,Maggie Macrae, Cy Laurie,John Eaglesham,Willie Scott and most of all Sheila Mc Math, who can sing but doesn't but took me along to Kilmarnock Folk club and encouraged me to sing and to listen and made me realise that there was more out there than folk rock.