My influences were broad-ranging. I learned about melodic improvisation and its complexity from Charlie Parker. I learned about simple direct single lyric lines from Woody Guthrie.
I learned about musical economy from Miles Davis. I learned about communication of heart-felt musical ideas from Louis Armstrong. Raw power from Leadbelly. What the acoustic guitar can do from Eddie Lang and Django. Phrasing of a song from Tony Bennett.
The power of song for people from Pete Seeger and Paul Robeson. The total misuse and
corrupt ideology from German marching and drinking songs from the time of Hitler.

My influences may or may not have influenced what I do when I make music, however.
when we play music, we are really our own unique influence.

Frank Hamilton