Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was born at Chase Farm Hospital in Gordon Hill, Enfield, London, on the 14th of September 1983. Her father Mitchell Winehouse worked as a taxi driver and sang amateur jazz songs around the house. Her mother Janis Seaton worked as a pharmacist. The family attended a weekly cheder, a Jewish primary school, though Amy later recalled learning nothing about being Jewish there. At age five she began attending Osidge Primary School before moving to Ashmole School where her grades were surprisingly good according to her mother.
In 1992 Cynthia Winehouse encouraged her granddaughter to attend Susi Earnshaw Theatre School. There she spent Saturdays developing singing, acting and tap dancing skills alongside childhood friend Juliette Ashby. They formed a short-lived rap duo called Sweet'n'Sour. Later she enrolled at Sylvia Young Theatre School where reports claimed she was expelled for not applying herself and piercing her nose. Both Sylvia Young and her father denied this, stating she simply transferred schools at fifteen.
Winehouse purchased her own guitar after experimenting with her brother's instrument. She soon began writing original songs while working as an entertainment journalist for World Entertainment News Network. A soul singer named Tyler James sent a demo tape of hers to an A&R scout which helped launch her professional career. By 2002 she had signed a publishing deal with EMI and recorded several songs.
Amy Winehouse released her debut album Frank on the 20th of October 2003. Produced mainly by Salaam Remi the record featured jazz-influenced songs that Winehouse co-wrote except for two covers. The album received wide critical acclaim with compliments given to its cool critical gaze in lyrics. Her voice drew comparisons to Sarah Vaughan and Macy Gray among others.
The album entered upper reaches of UK Albums Chart in 2004 when nominated for Brit Awards categories including British Female Solo Artist and British Urban Act. It achieved platinum sales status. In late 2004 she and Remi won Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song for their first single together Stronger Than Me. The album also shortlisted for 2004 Mercury Music Prize.
Later that year Winehouse performed at Glastonbury Festival Jazz World stage, V Festival and Montreal International Jazz Festival. After release she commented being only eighty percent behind the album because Island Records overruled song preferences and mixes. Despite commercial success critics praised mature songwriting and jazz-imbued production throughout the record.
Winehouse shifted focus from jazz to 1950s and 1960s girl groups while recording her second studio album Back to Black. She hired New York singer Sharon Jones's band Dap-Kings to back her up in studio and on tour. Mark Ronson produced alongside Salaam Remi with credits split between them. The eleven-track album completed in five months became international critical and commercial success.
Released in UK on the 30th of October 2006 it reached number one on UK Albums Chart for two weeks in January 2007. In US it entered at number seven on Billboard 200. It was best-selling album in UK of 2007 selling 1.85 million copies over course of year. First single Rehab reached top ten in both UK and US earning Time magazine Best Song of 2007 designation.
At 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008 Winehouse won five awards tying then-record for most Grammys by female artist in single night. Wins included three Big Four categories: Best New Artist Record of Year and Song of Year for Rehab plus Best Pop Vocal Album. She became first British woman to win five Grammys. Album sales increased after ceremony catapulting Back to Black to number two on US Billboard 200.
Winehouse's dichotomous public image prompted significant media comment throughout her career. The New Statesman called her a filthy-mouthed down-to-earth diva while Newsweek described perfect storm of sex kitten raw talent and poor impulse control. By 2008 drug problems threatened career as Island Records president Nick Gatfield toyed with releasing her to deal with issues.
Post-Grammy some questioned whether she should have been honoured given recent personal and drug problems including Natalie Cole who introduced her at ceremony. Winehouse prevented from travelling to perform at Grammy Awards due failing drug test. UN Office on Drugs and Crime executive director Antonio Maria Costa said alleged drug habits sent bad message to vulnerable others undermining efforts raising awareness about Africa where more cocaine passed through continent.
In January 2008 record label stated extensive media coverage increased record sales. April 2008 Sky News poll named Winehouse second-greatest ultimate heroine by UK population topping voting under twenty-five category. Psychologist Donna Dawson commented results demonstrated women like Winehouse received recognition for having sense vulnerability fighting adversity in lives. BBC Radio Scotland head Jeff Zycinski stated media complicit in undermining celebrities including Winehouse.
Winehouse's substance use disorder subject much media attention over years. In 2005 period drinking heavy drug use weight loss occurred. People seeing end year early 2006 reported rebound coinciding writing Back to Black. Family believed mid-2006 death grandmother stabilising influence set off addiction. August 2007 Winehouse cancelled number shows citing exhaustion ill health hospitalised reported overdose heroin ecstasy cocaine ketamine alcohol.
Various interviews admitted problems self-harm depression eating disorders. Washington Post prewrote obituary due personal issues. December 2007 spokesman reported singer physician-supervised programme channelling difficulties writing music. January 2008 British tabloid The Sun posted video showing smoking crack cocaine speaking taking ecstasy Valium event took place Friday the 18th of January early hours morning.
Shortly after alleged incident father moved living keeping her under twenty-four-hour watch. Late January reportedly entered rehabilitation facility two-week treatment programme. March 26 spokesman said doing well. By late April erratic behaviour including allegation assault caused fear efforts unsuccessful. Father manager sought detain under Mental Health Act 1983 dishevelled appearance scheduled club night September 2008 prompted new relapse rumours.
Winehouse's bodyguard Andrew Morris arrived residence three days before death feeling somewhat intoxicated. Two days later mother admitted acting out of same day visited doctor routine check-ups fragile state no abnormalities noted happy condition left Friday night concerns less than twenty-four hours found dead. After check-up called confessing feelings codependency stating don't want die alongside attempted sobriety couldn't achieve it last recorded words.
Morris observed drinking moderately next few days laughing listening music watching TV 2 a.m. day death another source claimed watching old re-runs past performances reminiscing. At ten a.m. BST the 23rd of July 2011 Morris observed lying bed tried unsuccessfully rouse raised much suspicion usually slept late after night out. Shortly after 3 p.m. checked again observing lying same position leading further check concluded not breathing no pulse called emergency services.
At 3:54 p.m. two ambulances reached Camden London home pronounced dead scene shortly afterwards Metropolitan Police confirmed died. Forensic investigators entered flat cordoned street recovered one small two large bottles vodka room. Coroners report released October 2011 stated blood alcohol content 416 per 100 more than five times legal drink-drive limit. Verdict sudden unexpected death unintended consequence reaching death misadventure.
Soon after Winehouse's death prominent critics assessed singer legacy. Maura Johnston Village Voice said when on had few peers contralto enriched simplest syllables full spectrum emotion. Sasha Frere-Jones New Yorker proclaimed nobody match unique transitions utterly weird phrasings sounded like original sixties soul star developed landscape rules untrammelled traditionalism lead beautiful footnote cut short American soul visionaries Erykah Badu Janelle Monáe Jill Scott moved on fine shepherd past.
Artists credited influence paving way include Adele Duffy Lady Gaga Raphael Saadiq Anthony Hamilton John Legend Bruno Mars Tove Lo Jessie J Emeli Sandé Victoria Justice Paloma Faith Lana Del Rey Sam Smith Florence Welch Halsey Alessia Cara Estelle Daya Jorja Smith Lauren Jauregui Billie Eilish. Artists paid tribute Nicki Minaj M.I.A. Lady Gaga Kelly Osbourne Rihanna George Michael Adele Dita Von Teese Courtney Love Patti Smith wrote This Is Girl homage rock band Green Day song Amy tribute.
Parents written memoirs about daughter donated proceeds Amy Winehouse Foundation Mitch biography titled Amy My Daughter published 2012 Janis Loving Amy Mother Story 2014 documentary film Amy directed Asif Kapadia released the 3rd of July 2015 covers life relationships struggles substance abuse before career blossomed death.
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Common questions
When and where was Amy Winehouse born?
Amy Jade Winehouse was born at Chase Farm Hospital in Gordon Hill, Enfield, London on the 14th of September 1983.
What awards did Amy Winehouse win at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008?
At the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008 Amy Winehouse won five awards including Best New Artist Record of Year Song of Year for Rehab plus Best Pop Vocal Album. She became the first British woman to win five Grammys in a single night.
How did Amy Winehouse die according to the coroners report released October 2011?
The coroners report released October 2011 stated her blood alcohol content was 416 per 100 more than five times the legal drink-drive limit. The verdict concluded sudden unexpected death as an unintended consequence reaching death misadventure.
Which album by Amy Winehouse reached number one on the UK Albums Chart in January 2007?
Back to Black entered the UK Albums Chart at number one for two weeks in January 2007 and became the best-selling album in the UK of 2007 selling 1.85 million copies over the course of the year.
When was the documentary film Amy directed by Asif Kapadia released?
The documentary film Amy directed by Asif Kapadia covers her life relationships struggles substance abuse before career blossomed death and was released on the 3rd of July 2015.