Quote: Amy Winehouse

 

"I'm not religious at all. I think faith is something that gives you strength. I believe in fate and I believe that things happen for a reason but I don't think that there's a high power, necessarily. I believe in karma very much though. There are so many rude people around and they're the people that don't have any real friends. And relationships with people - with your mum, your nan, your dog - are what you get the most happiness in life from. Apart from shoes and bags. "

-           Amy Winehouse

 Amy Jade Winehouse (1983-2011) died on 23 July this year.  Not only did the world lose a troubled soul tormented by her inner demons and by substance abuse, it also lost a unique singing and songwriting talent.

Following is a brief chronology:

1983	Born in North London to a Jewish family.  Taxi driver father Mitch sings Frank Sinatra songs to her and she develops an interest in jazz early on, even singing in class at school.
1992	Parents separate.  At the suggestion of her grandmother, starts attending Susi Earnshaw Theatre School
1993	Forms a short lived rap group, Sweet ‘n’ Sour
1996	Changes to Sylvia Young Theatre School. Receives first guitar
1997	Begins writing her first music
1998	Starts work as entertainment journalist and starts singing with local group The Bolsha Band.
2000	Is the featured female vocalist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.  Influences are Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington.
2002	Signs with record company 19 Management.  Also signs publishing deal with EMI.  Adopts Cleopatra makeup and beehive hairdo from 1960’s girl group The Ronettes.
2003	Debut album Frank successful in the UK. Apart from two covers, every song co-written by Amy Winehouse.
2006	Follow up album Back to Black nominated for 6 Grammy awards, wins 5 including Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
2007	Marries Blake Fielder-Civil. Her life publicly spirals out of control, including drug use, alcohol abuse, violence, inability to perform, bizarre statements and aborted rehab attempts.
2008	Fielder-Civil imprisoned 2008 and 2009 for perverting the course of justice and assault. Winehouse becomes involved with other men and women.
2009	Winehouse divorced. Her substance abuse and mental health issues continue. She is also charged with various assaults at different times.
2011	Records duet of Body and Soul with Tony Bennett for his Duets 11 album (photo above). One month later she dies of alcohol poisoning. On December 6 2011 an album of unreleased material, Lioness:  Hidden Treasure, is released.

“I know Amy Winehouse very well. And she is very different to what people portray her as being. Yes, she does get out of her mind on drugs sometimes, but she is also a very clever, intelligent, witty, funny person who can hold it together. You just don't see that side.”

-    Lily Allen

“Singer Amy Winehouse, who died in London overnight, has joined a tragic group of famous rock stars who passed away at the age of 27 - the notorious 27 Club. Rolling Stones founding member Brian Jones, guitarist Jimi Hendrix, singer Janis Joplin. The Doors singer Jim Morrison and Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain are the other major "members" of the ill-fated club.”

- News report