Amy Jade Winehouse (born 14 September 1983 in London) is an English singer-songwriter, known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including soul, jazz, rock 'n' roll and rhythm and blues. Her musical formation went through listening to such jazz divas as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday and Sarah Vaughan; she was later influenced by contemporary metropolitan popular music as well. She represents a union of these esthetics and of her writing (she composes her music herself): a happy compromise and fusion of '40s jazz, '60s soul and hard texts inspired by daily life.