Amy Winehouse would have celebrated year 37 today. Born September 14, 1983, Winehouse was a UK singer and songwriter. They nominated her debut album, Frank, in 2003 for the Mercury Prize. The 2006 sophomore album Back to Black earned five 2008 Grammy Awards, tying the then-record for the most wins by a female artist in one night.
I write songs about stuff that I can’t really get past personally – and then I write a song about it and I feel better.
Amy Winehouse
Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011, aged 27. They found Amy Winehouse dead at her north London home.
Winehouse received her first guitar when she was 13 and began writing music a year later.
Her greatest love was the 1960s girl groups. She was “instantly recognizable” with her beehive hairdo and her borrowed Cleopatra makeup from The Ronettes.
In 2007, she won a Brit Award for Best British Female Artist. She won the Ivor Novello Award three times. In 2004 for Best Contemporary Song (musically and lyrically) for ‘Stronger Than Me’, in 2007 for ‘Rehab’, and in 2008 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 several singles, the first single released from the album was ‘Rehab’. The song reached the top ten in the UK and the US.
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’, the names Ray and Mr. Hathaway 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, released in September 2011. The single from the album, ‘Body and Soul’.
In 2014, a life-size bronze statue of singer Amy Winehouse 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.
