Over the years, I've enjoyed music from a plethora of artists and have inevitably been influenced by the musicians I love. As is to be expected, songs and performances that I first witnessed in my teenage years have had a particularly strong impact. Then came the glorious day that I discovered back catalogues and a whole new world of wonder opened up to me. My appreciation of the talent and skills of particular performers, going back to the 1950s and continuing right up to today, brings me great pleasure.

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I thought people might like to know which songs and artists have affected me the most and have therefore listed them below. I've compiled them as if they are my personal top ten, with "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" performed by Roberta Flack as my all time favourite song - I get gorgeous goose bumps every time I listen to it.

Sade is crowned at the top of my all time favourite artists list. The band's precise musicianship accompanying Sade Adu's deeply introspective lyrics, sung so soulfully in that airy, contralto voice of hers is, for me, as refined as music can be.