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The 30-year-old Atlanta native first began singing in church as a child. Both her grandmother and mother were singers; her mom transformed her career from that of a pop vocalist to a gospel singer. As a child, Michelle spent summers on the road with her. "As far as music goes, my mother was a big influence," she says. "But the rest of the childhood thing I had to create for myself. I pretty much had to find my own way, and my own roots."

Her musical influences include blues, gospel, jazz and rock. "I've always listened to a lot of different types of music. It changes constantly. When I was a little kid, I was really into Linda Ronstadt, and I was really into Bonnie Raitt, later on Patti Smith, and of course, Tina Turner. All the boy bands I discovered later in life. I love Neil Young."

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Related Links

• Michelle Malone's Home Page

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