Amy Winehouse

Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful contralto vocalsand her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz.

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. On 14 February 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, one in 2004 for Best Contemporary Song (musically and lyrically) for "Stronger Than Me", one in 2007 for Best Contemporary Song for "Rehab", and one in 2008 for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for "Love Is a Losing Game", among other distinctions. The album was the third seller of the 2000s in the United Kingdom

Winehouse was credited as an influence in the rise in popularity of female musicians and soul music, and also for revitalising British music. Winehouse's distinctive style made her a muse for fashion designers such as Karl Lagerfeld. Winehouse's problems with drug and alcohol abuse, and her self-destructive behaviours were regular tabloid news from 2007 until her death. She and her former husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, were plagued by legal troubles that left him serving prison time. In 2008, Winehouse faced a series of health complications that threatened both her career and her life

Winehouse died at the age of 27 on 23 July 2011, at her home in Londonpolice have said that the cause of her death was "as yet unexplained

1 Early life

2 Music career

2.1 Early career

2.2 Major label success and Frank

2.3 International success and Back to Black

2.4 Continued success and acclaim

2.5 Final projects

3 Artistry

3.1 Music and Voice

3.2 Influence on the music industry

4 Live performances

4.1 Club nights

5 Other ventures

6 Personal life

6.1 Relationships

6.2 Substance abuse and mental health issues

6.3 Legal difficulties

6.4 Health problems

7 Death

8 Controversy

9 Artistic impressions

10 Discography

11 Awards and nominations

12 References

13 Further reading

14 External links

Winehouse was born in the Southgate area of north London to a Jewish family who were influential toward her interest in jazz. Winehouse was the younger of two children (older brother Alex) of Mitchell Winehouse, a taxi driver, and Janis Winehouse (née Seaton), a pharmacist Mitchell often sang Frank Sinatra songs to young Amy, who also took to a constant habit of singing to the point that teachers found it difficult keeping her quiet in class

When Winehouse was nine years old, her grandmother, Cynthia, suggested she attend the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School for further training.At age ten, Winehouse founded a short-lived rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with childhood friend Juliette Ashby. She stayed at the Earnshaw school for four years before seeking full time training at Sylvia Young Theatre School, but was allegedly expelled at 14 for "not applying herself" and for piercing her nose With other children from the Sylvia Young School, she appeared in an episode of The Fast Show in 1997 She later attended the BRIT School in Selhurst, Croydonand attended Southgate School and Ashmole School

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

 

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse

I don't usually (ever) take to my blog to write about things to do with celebrities (the Royal Wedding aside) because a lot of the time they're getting enough exposure and this blog isn't really about celebs now, is it?