Amy Winehouse was a talented singer and songwriter. She received five Grammy Awards for her album Back to Black. The most famous album, unfortunately, was the last compilation released in her life before her life was tragically cut short by an accidental alcohol overdose.
Amy was born into a family of musicians. The girl was supported in musical endeavors. She attended Silvia Young Theater School and starred in an episode of "Quick Show" with her classmates.
She knew various musical genres since childhood. The girl loved to sing so much that she even sang during classes, much to the chagrin of the teachers. Amy started playing the guitar when she was 13 years old. And soon she began to write her own music. She admired the girl groups of the 1960s, even imitating their clothing style.
Amy was a big fan of Frank Sinatra and named her debut album after him. The Frank album became very successful. More success followed with their second album, Back to Black. The album was nominated for six Grammy awards, of which the artist received five.
A talented artist with a contralto voice was ready to reach even greater heights. But she became a victim of alcoholism, which took her life.
Childhood and youth of Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was born into a middle-class Jewish family. Daughter of taxi driver Mitchell and pharmacist Janice. The family was very fond of jazz and soul. At the age of 9, her parents decided to separate, at which time her grandmother (paternal side) suggested that Amy enter the theater school Susi Earnshaw in Barnet.
At the age of 10, she formed the rap group Sweet 'n' Sour. Amy didn't go to one school, but several. It was because she behaved badly in the classroom, there were a lot of conflicts with her.
At 13, she received a guitar for her birthday and began composing. She later appeared in several bars in the city. And then she became part of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. In mid-1999, Tyler James' boyfriend gave the producer Amy's tape.
The beginning of a career and the first album of Amy Winehouse
She started working as a teenager. One of his first jobs was as a journalist for the World Entertainment News Network. She also sang with local bands in her hometown.
Amy Winehouse began her musical career at the age of 16. She signed her first contract with Simon Fuller, with whom she terminated the contract in 2002. A rep from the Island label heard Amy sing, spent months looking for her and found her.
He introduced her to his boss, Nick Gatfield. Nick spoke passionately about Amy's talent, signed her to an EMI editing contract. And later introduced her to Salam Remy (future producer).
Although she was supposed to keep the record industry a secret, her recordings were overheard by an A&R employee at Island, who took an interest in the young artist.
The singer released her debut album Frank (2003), named after the idol Frank Sinatra (Island Records). The album featured a combination of jazz, hip hop and soul music. This album received positive reviews and received several prizes and nominations.
She then began to draw media attention to her substance abuse issues. After the release of her debut album, she plunged into a period of drinking, drug addiction, eating disorders and mood swings. They stepped up in 2005.
Amy Winehouse's second album
The second album Back to Black was released in 2006. It was a critically acclaimed album that was also a huge commercial hit. For this, she received several Grammy awards.
Rehab was the first single released from Back to Black in 2006. The song is about a troubled singer refusing to go to rehab. Oddly enough, the single was very successful, and later became a signature song.
She was a heavy smoker and drunkard. She also used illegal drugs such as heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, etc. This negatively affected her health. She canceled several of her shows and tours in 2007 due to health reasons.
She claimed to have stopped illegal drug use in early 2008, although she began drinking. Her drinking habits worsened over time and entered a pattern marked by periods of abstinence and then relapse.
The posthumous compilation Lioness: Hidden Treasures was released by Island Records in December 2011. The album peaked at number 1 on the UK Compilation Chart.
Amy Winehouse Awards and Achievements
In 2008, she received five Grammy Awards for Back to Black, including Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
She has won three Ivor Novello Awards (2004, 2007 and 2008). These awards were given in recognition of songs and writing unique songs.
Personal life and legacy of Amy Winehouse
She had a troubled marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil, which included physical abuse and drug abuse. Her husband showed the singer illegal drugs. The couple married in 2007 and divorced two years later. She then dated Reg Travis.
She had many problems with the law due to violent behavior and possession of illegal drugs.
She has been involved in various charitable organizations such as CARE, Christian Children's Fund, Red Cross, Anti-Slavery International. A little-known aspect of her personality was that she cared deeply about the community and gave donations to charities.
There were also long-term problems with alcoholism. She died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at age 27.
Five eternal books about Amy Winehouse
"Before Frank" by Charles Moriarty (2017)
Charles Moriarty immortalized the singer for "promoting" Frank's first album. This beautiful book features two photographs taken in 2003. One of them was filmed in New York, and the second - in the hometown of the singer Back to Black.
Amy My Daughter (2011) (Mitch Winehouse)
On July 23, 2011, Amy Winehouse died from a fatal overdose. There are many speculations about her death. But after the creation of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, the singer's father (Mitch Winehouse) decided to clarify the truth with the book Amy My Daughter.
This is a fascinating story about the details of the life of Amy Winehouse. From his unstable childhood to his first steps in the music industry and his sudden emergence into the limelight. Mitch Winehouse paid tribute to his daughter by revealing new information and images.
"Amy: A Family Portrait" (2017)
In March 2017, an exhibition dedicated to the life of a jazz singer opened in Camden at the Jewish Museum in London. "Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait" invited the public to admire the singer's personal belongings, collected by her brother Alex Winehouse against the backdrop of popular singles.
Family photos stand next to the singer's clothes and shoes, including the Arrogant Cat Gingham dress she wore in the Tears Dry On Own video, as well as her favorite instruments. To celebrate this event, the museum has compiled all the details of the exhibition into a beautiful book that can be purchased at the Jewish Museum or online.
"Amy: Life Through the Lens"
Amy: Life Through the Lens is an amazing work. Its authors (Darren and Elliot Bloom) were the official paparazzi of Amy Winehouse. This privileged relationship made them rethink every aspect of the soul singer's life. Her late night travel, international gigs, unconditional love for music, and her addiction issues.
Amy Winehouse - 27 Forever (2017)
Six years after Amy Winehouse's death, ArtBook Editions paid tribute to the singer with a limited edition book. This book, Amy Winehouse 6 Forever, is archival images from prestigious French and British press companies, showing Amy Winehouse's signature retro look.
But the highlight was the build quality of the edition. The book is printed and created in Italy, covered in leather to give it a unique luxury.
