“I went to a Catholic all-girls school, and we would play cassettes of music we liked, and when it was my turn, they would laugh at my choices. I would play Billie Holliday, Elmore James and Howlin' Wolf, but it was fine; if I had to listen to their choices, they had to listen to mine.”

Irish singer, songwriter, television presenter and multi-instrumentalist

Imelda May, born Imelda Mary Higham, is an Irish singer, songwriter, television presenter, and multi-instrumentalist. She is known for her rockabilly revival style and for a career that has moved across music and television. Her work is often associated with rockabilly, with a sound rooted in older styles of popular music. She has also been compared with female jazz singers such as Billie Holiday, which reflects the control and phrasing often noted in her performances.