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Amy Winehouse

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Amy Winehouse
Photo by Mark Holloway/Redferns

On 23rd July 2011, Amy Winehouse was found dead at her north London home, she was 27. London Ambulance Service said it had been called to the flat at 15.54 BST and sent two vehicles but the woman died. The troubled singer had a long battle with drink and drugs, which overshadowed her recent musical career.

15 facts about Amy.

Winehouse’s 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize.

Her 2006 follow-up album, Back to Black, led to six Grammy Award nominations and five wins, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night, and made Winehouse the first British female to win five Grammys, including three of the “Big Four”: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Her father, Mitchell “Mitch” Winehouse, was a taxi driver, her mother, Janis Winehouse, a pharmacist. Her grandmother, Cynthia, was a singer.

She attended the Earnshaw school for four years and founded a short-lived rap group called Sweet ‘n’ Sour with Juliette Ashby, her childhood friend.

Winehouse received her first guitar when she was 13 and began writing music a year later.

Winehouse’s greatest love was 1960s girl groups. Her stylist, Alex Foden, borrowed her “instantly recognisable” beehive hairdo and she borrowed her Cleopatra makeup from The Ronettes.

In 2007 she won a Brit Award for Best British Female Artist; she had also been nominated for Best British Album. She won the Ivor Novello Award three times: once in 2004 for Best Contemporary Song (musically and lyrically) for “Stronger Than Me”, once in 2007 for Best Contemporary Song for “Rehab”, and once in 2008 for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for “Love Is a Losing Game”.

Her album Back to Black subsequently became the UK’s best selling album of the 21st century. The album spawned a number of singles, the first single released from the album was the Mark Ronson-produced “Rehab”. The song reached the top ten in the UK and the US.

Both Adele and Lady Gaga credited Winehouse with paving the way for them to rise to the top of the charts.

Throughout her life, Winehouse donated her money, music and time to many charities, particularly children’s charities. She was even once named “the most charitable act” by Pop World.

Her favorite artists included Nas, Mos Def, Teena Marie, Beastie Boys, Carol King, Mahalia Jackson and Thelonious Monk.

In her song “Rehab”, she mentions the names Ray and Mr. Hathaway. These are references to the soul singers Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway.

Winehouse’s last recording was a duet with American singer Tony Bennett for his latest album, Duets II, which was released in September 2011. Their single from the album, “Body and Soul.”

Back To Black

In 2008 Bryan Adams wrote a song for Amy Winehouse in a bid to help her overcome her drug habit. The song titled “Flower Grown Wild” is about the dangers of drug-taking.

Sadly when she died, Winehouse became a member of The 27 Club, which also included the deaths of other prominent musicians who all died age 27, such as Robert Johnson, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain.

On 14 September 2014 (which would have been Winehouse’s 31st birthday), a statue was unveiled of her, which was created by sculptor Scott Eaton, at Stables Market in Camden Town, north London. Fans and relatives gathered for the unveiling in Camden’s Stable Market.

In 2015 the British documentary film Amy directed by Asif Kapadia was released. The film depicts Winehouse’s life largely from the standpoint of her struggle with substance abuse problems both before and after her career began to blossom, and which eventually caused her premature death.

Important Dates In The Life Of Amy Winehouse:

On this day in music
11 Nov 2023
An iconic leather jacket worn by Michael Jackson in the 1980s sold at auction for £250,000 ($306,000). The black-and-white garment, worn by the late singer in a Pepsi advert was among more than 200 pieces of music memorabilia sold in London, UK. Other sales included the George Michael La Rocka jacket he wore while duetting alongside Aretha Franklin in 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)' which sold for £93,750 ($115,000) and an Amy Winehouse beehive hairpiece sold for £18,750 ($22,900).
21 Jul 2023
American singer Tony Bennett died at his home in New York City just two weeks short of his 97th birthday, following seven years of Alzheimer's disease. Bennett had the 1955 UK No.1 single 'Stranger In Paradise' and the 1965 UK No.25 single 'I Left My Heart In San Francisco'. In 1998, Bennett made an unlikely but highly successful appearance on the final day of a mud-soaked Glastonbury Festival in the UK dressed in an immaculate suit and tie, his whole set on this occasion consisting of songs about the weather. Bennett and Amy Winehouse recorded the duet 'Body and Soul' in March 2011 - the final recording made by Winehouse before her death on July 23, 2011 at the age of 27. When the song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 it made Bennett, at age 85, the oldest living artist ever to chart on the Hot 100.
27 Jul 2019
Amy Winehouse's ex boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil made legal claim for a £1million cut of the tragic singer’s fortune. Fielder-Civil told Amy’s family his lawyers said he had a valid claim because he was with her for six years during which she released some of her best-selling material. The family replied by saying he's spent a lot of their marriage in prison, bringing nothing but pain to everyone and to give him another penny would be too much.
14 Sep 2014
A life-size bronze statue of singer Amy Winehouse was unveiled in Camden, north London. Her father, Mitch Winehouse, said she was "in love with Camden" and it was the place fans associated with her. Created by sculptor Scott Eaton, the statue features the Back to Black star with her hand on hip and her trademark beehive hairdo.
29 Dec 2012
According to sales data, Adele's 21 had overtaken Oasis’ (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? to become the UK’s fourth biggest selling album of all-time. Latest data confirmed that, Oasis’ 1995 second album had sold 4,555,000 copies to date, while Adele’s 21 has surged ahead with sales of over 4,562,000 copies. The news came just over a year since 21 overtook Amy Winehouse's Back To Black to become the UK's biggest selling album of the 21st Century.
5 Dec 2011
After spending 45 weeks at the top end of the UK charts, singer Adele's second album ‘21’ become the biggest selling LP in Britain this century, surpassing the late Amy Winehouse's 2006 LP ‘Back to Black’.
26 Oct 2011
A coroner's inquest on the death of Amy Winehouse reached a verdict of misadventure. The report explained that Winehouse's blood alcohol content was 416 mg per decilitre at the time of her death, more than five times the legal drink-drive limit. According to the coroner ‘The unintended consequences of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden death’.
27 Sep 2011
Tony Bennett became the oldest living person to top the US album chart when the 85-year-old's 'Duets II' album went to No.1. The record, which featured collaborations with Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga, was also his first US No.1 in his 60 year career. The previous oldest performer to top the chart was Bob Dylan in 2009 with 'Together Through Life'. At the time he was 67-years old.
23 Jul 2011
Amy Winehouse was found dead at her north London home, she was 27. A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed that a 27-year-old woman had died in Camden and that the cause of death was as yet unexplained.London Ambulance Service said it had been called to the flat at 1554 BST and sent two vehicles but the woman died.The troubled singer had a long battle with drink and drugs which overshadowed her recent musical career.
19 Jun 2011
Amy Winehouse was booed by crowds in Serbia's capital Belgrade after appearing to be too drunk to perform. The concert - the first on the singers 12-day European tour, saw Winehouse mumble her way through parts of songs, leave the stage altogether and at one point she threw her microphone to the floor. She was frequently booed by the crowd, who had paid up to £45 to see her in a country in which wages are some of the lowest in Europe.
23 May 2009
Amy Winehouse cancelled her appearance at a concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Island Records. The event, scheduled to take place on 31st May at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire, had now been cancelled completely, her management said.
6 Apr 2009
PRS for Music announced that the money made by UK artists overseas increased by £20m ($29.45) in 2008, with British talent earning almost £140m ($206.23) in 2008. It said international tours by UK acts including The Police, Coldplay, Elton John and Iron Maiden had boosted income. Four of the top 10 bestselling albums globally were by British artists, Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends was the bestselling album, with 6.8 million copies sold, while Welsh singer-songwriter Duffy was fourth with her debut album Rockferry, Leona Lewis and Amy Winehouse were sixth and seventh respectively.
10 Nov 2008
Coldplay were declared the biggest-selling act of 2008 at the World Music Awards held in Monaco. The band picked up the prize ‘ along with the Rock Act Of The Year award ‘ after their current album 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' topped charts around the globe. Other winners at the awards included Leona Lewis for Best Pop Female ‘ and Best New Artist, Amy Winehouse was the winner in the Female Pop/Rock award, while Alicia Keys was named best in the R&B category. Lil' Wayne bagged the Hip-Hop/Rap Artist award, while Akon was declared the Biggest Internet Artist Of The Year.
31 Oct 2008
A couple who admitted supplying drugs including cocaine and ecstasy to singer Amy Winehouse were warned they faced a jail term as they appeared in Snaresbrook Crown Court, England. The charges related to video footage which appeared to show Winehouse smoking a crack pipe. The singer was arrested and questioned over the images but she was not charged.
29 Aug 2008
Organisers of a French music concert threatened legal action after Amy Winehouse pulled out of her performance. Winehouse failed to travel to the three-day Rock En Seine festival in Paris where the line-up included the Raconteurs, The Streets and Kate Nash. The 24-year-old singer was said to have been taken ill at her London home. Organisers said they were given just two hours notice that Winehouse, who was headlining the concert, would not be appearing.
28 Jul 2008
Amy Winehouse was rushed to hospital after she started to have fits at her home in Camden North London. A spokesman said it appeared the singer had suffered a reaction to medication she was taking to help her off hard drugs.
23 Jul 2008
A waxwork model of Amy Winehouse was unveiled at Madame Tussauds. The singer's parents, Mitch and Janis, revealed the model, ‘complete with trademark beehive and sailor tattoos’, at the London attraction. Earlier in the week her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was jailed for 27 months for attacking a pub landlord and perverting the course of justice.
21 Jul 2008
Amy Winehouse's husband was jailed for 27 months for attacking a pub landlord and perverting the course of justice. Blake Fielder-Civil, 26, of Camden, north London, admitted assaulting James King, 36, at the Macbeths pub in Hoxton, east London, in June 2006. He also admitted at Snaresbrook Crown Court trying to make Mr King withdraw his complaint using a £200,000 bribe.
27 Jun 2008
Kings of Leon, The Fratellis, Editors, The Gossip, The Feeling, KT Tunstall, Kate Nash, Jay Z, Amy Winehouse, The Raconteurs, James Blunt, Crowded House, Seasick Steve, Martha Wainwright, The Verve, Leonard Cohen, The Ting Tings, Goldfrapp, Neil Diamond, Pete Doherty, Scouting for Girls, Mark Ronson, Duffy, The Zutons, Groove Armada and John Mayer all appeared at this years 3 day UK Glastonbury Festival.
12 Jun 2008
Amy Winehouse performed an exclusive gig at a Moscow art gallery for Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and his girlfriend Dasha Zhukova. It was reported that the singer was paid £1m for the gig at the launch of The Garage gallery, which has been set up by Ms Zhukova.
17 May 2008
Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty posted a two-minute clip of themselves playing with newborn mice on Youtube. The video showed Doherty and Winehouse in a bare room, making rambling comments, picking up the mice and talking to them.
26 Apr 2008
Amy Winehouse spent the night in custody after being arrested on suspicion of assault. Police said Winehouse had been "in no fit state" to be questioned when she arrived at the London station and she was kept in the cells. The 24-year-old was to be questioned about an incident said to have occurred 3 days earlier after a 38-year-old man claimed he was assaulted.
23 Apr 2008
Amy Winehouse went out on a drink and drug-fuelled spree and hit and head-butted two men. After drinking all day, Amy visited the Good Mixer pub in Camden, London with Babyshambles guitarist Mik Whitnall. Inside she allegedly punched Mustapha el Mounmi in the face after he refused to give way to her at the pool table. The singer then left to visit Bar Tok in the early hours and once at the bar shouted "I am a legend get these people out. I want to take drugs." After leaving the bar a good Samaritan tried to get her a cab, but she reportedly thought he was trying to molest her and allegedly head-butted him in the face.
2 Mar 2008
Three months after its initial release, the deluxe edition of Amy Winehouse's Grammy Award-winning album 'Back to Black' went to No.1 on the UK album chart.
10 Feb 2008
Amy Winehouse won five prizes at this year's Grammy Awards, including song of the year and record of the year, both for her single 'Rehab', and best new artist. The UK singer was not at the Los Angeles ceremony to collect them due to visa problems. Instead, she made an acceptance speech by satellite, paying tribute to her husband, "my Blake incarcerated", who was in custody awaiting trial on charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and grievous bodily harm.
7 Feb 2008
Amy Winehouse was told she could not perform at this year's Grammy awards ceremony because her US visa application has been rejected by the embassy in London. The singer was arrested for marijuana possession in Norway last year. Winehouse has been nominated for six Grammy awards ahead of the ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday.
5 Feb 2008
Amy Winehouse was questioned by police in connection with a video apparently showing her smoking a crack-cocaine pipe. The singer, who was not arrested, was interviewed under caution after the video was posted online by the Sun newspaper.
24 Jan 2008
Amy Winehouse was admitted into rehab in a battle to kick her addiction to drugs. A statement from her record company, Universal said she entered the facility "after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors to continue her ongoing recovery against drug addiction."
9 Jan 2008
Spice Girl Victoria Beckham was named the worst dressed celebrity in an annual list of fashion disasters. Fashion critic Richard Blackwell, who had compiled the poll every year since 1960, said Beckham stepped out in "one skinny-mini monstrosity after another". Amy Winehouse's trademark beehive and tattoos helped earn her second place in the list.
26 Dec 2007
Amy Winehouse's second album ‘Back to Black’ was named as the biggest-selling album of the year. Released at the end of 2006 the album had now sold more than 1.5m copies in the UK, achieving five platinum sales awards, Winehouse was also nominated for six Grammys including song of the year. Leona Lewis's ‘Spirit’ was the second best seller, Lewis sold 1.27m copies in just five weeks, becoming the fastest-selling debut in UK history and making the former X Factor winner the fastest female million-seller in the UK. Mika's ‘Life in Cartoon Motion’ were the third best selling album of 2007.
8 Nov 2007
Four men were arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice after Police raided a house in Camden, London belonging to singer Amy Winehouse. The arrests were in connection of a court case involving Ms Winehouse's husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who faced charges of causing grievous bodily harm.
1 Nov 2007
Winners at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards held in Munich, Germany included Avril Lavigne who was named best solo artist, and her song Girlfriend was voted most addictive track. Muse won two awards for best UK and Ireland act and best headline act, Linkin Park won the award for best band of 2007, and German band Tokio Hotel took the prize for best international act. Amy Winehouse won the Artist Choice prize, an award chosen by her fellow musicians and The ultimate urban prize went to R&B star Rihanna.
18 Oct 2007
Amy Winehouse and her husband Blake Fielder-Civil were arrested in Bergen, Norway and held overnight for possession of cannabis. The singer was released the following morning after paying a fine of 500 euros (£350; $714).
8 Oct 2007
Arctic Monkeys were named the best act in the world at this year's Q Awards held in London. Best album went to Amy Winehouse for Back to Black and Muse won Best live act. The icon of the year went to Sir Paul McCartney, former Blur frontman Damon Albarn took the prize for inspiration, Classic songwriter award went to Billy Bragg and Lifetime achievement award went to Johnny Marr. The late Tony Wilson, founder of Manchester's Factory Records was named Q's hero.
13 Aug 2007
Amy Winehouse pulled out of two Rolling Stones gigs in Hamburg Germany citing exhaustion, British group Starsailor replaced Winehouse for the shows.
9 Aug 2007
Amy Winehouse cancelled a series of European shows after being admitted to hospital suffering from "severe exhaustion". The 23-year-old singer was taken to University College London Hospital and later discharged. In the past few weeks she had pulled out of the T in the Park festival - also citing "exhaustion", Liverpool's Summer Pops event and concerts in Norway and Denmark.
7 Jul 2007
Snow Patrol Keyboard player Tom Simpson was arrested in connection with a failed court appearance in Glasgow. He was later released and the band went on to headline the T in the Park festival in Scotland. Amy Winehouse pulled out of her slot from the event suffering from "exhaustion".
24 May 2007
Amy Winehouse, Madonna and Arctic Monkeys were among the winners at this years Ivor Novello Awards. Winehouse won best contemporary song for her hit ‘Rehab’, while Madonna collected the international hit of the year for ‘Sorry.’ Sheffield-based band Arctic Monkeys collected the best album award for ‘Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not.’
12 Mar 2007
Amy Winehouse made her US television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman performing 'Rehab'. The song went on to win three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and also won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song.
14 Feb 2007
Winners at the 27th annual Brit Awards at London's Earls Court included Muse who won Best British Live Act, British Breakthrough Act went to The Fratellis. Winner of the Best International Breakthrough Act was Orson. Take That won the first-ever live vote, when they took home the Best British Single for 'Patience.' Arctic Monkeys were named Best British Group, James Morrison was named Best British Male and Amy Winehouse won Best British Female. Justin Timberlake won Best International Male and Nelly Furtado won Best International female. The Killers won Best International Group and Best International Album for Sam's Town and Oasis won the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award.
14 Jan 2007
Amy Winehouse started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Back To Black'. The album has sold over 3.58 million copies in the UK alone, becoming the UK's second best-selling album of the 21st century. Worldwide, the album has sold over 20 million copies.
27 Oct 2006
Amy Winehouse released her second and final studio album Back to Black. The album spawned five singles: 'Rehab', 'You Know I'm No Good', 'Back to Black', 'Tears Dry on Their Own' and 'Love Is a Losing Game' and won Best Pop Vocal Album at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. Back to Black sold 3.58 million copies in the UK alone, becoming the UK's second best-selling album of the 21st century. Worldwide, the album has sold over 20 million copies.
23 Oct 2006
Amy Winehouse released her "signature song" 'Rehab' as a single, taken from her second studio album, Back to Black. The lyrics are autobiographical, and talk about Winehouse's refusal one time to enter a rehabilitation clinic. It won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and also won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song.
20 Oct 2003
Amy Winehouse released her debut album Frank, (named after Frank Sinatra). The album has now sold over one million copies in the UK.
26 May 1995
The Rolling Stones played two semi-acoustic concerts at the Paradiso Amsterdam over two days. Keith Richards later said that the Paradiso concerts were the best live shows the Stones ever did. The venue is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century, subsequently squatted in 1967 by hippies who wanted to convert the church into an entertainment club. Artists who have recorded concerts at the Paradiso include Joy Division, Willie Nelson, Phish, Nirvana, The Cure, Lenny Kravitz, Nick Cave, Dave Matthews and Amy Winehouse.
3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Jan

    March 12, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    Such talented people in recent years just cannot or refuse to accept that drugs will kill you. They may be able to learn to sing difficult songs or learn to play difficult guitar riffs but drugs will drag you down, ruin your career, your life, then kill you.

  2. Collie

    March 13, 2019 at 1:46 pm

    I dont think it’s quite as simple as you make it Jan. Pretty harsh. RIP Amy… hope you’re singing somewhere. Hope your heart has healed…

  3. Connie

    September 14, 2019 at 11:52 am

    Not just recent years. Sadly this has been happening since the 1960s at least. Great shame so much talent has been lost.

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