Amy Winehouse

Biography

Amy Winehouse (14 September 1983 - 23 July 2011)
Amy Winehouse was an English singer/songwriter, best known for her Grammy Award-winning albums and critically acclaimed 2006 single 'Rehab'.

Net Worth: According to Celebrity Net Worth, at the time of her death in 2011, Amy Winehouse had a net worth of 10 million USD.

Childhood: Amy Winehouse was born in North London to Mitchell and Janis Winehouse, and lived with them and her elder brother Alex in Southgate. When Winehouse was nine years old, her parents separated, leading to Winehouse living with her mother and staying with her father at weekends. At this time, Winehouse began attending Susi Earnshaw Theatre School on Saturdays to take singing and tap-dancing lessons. After attending the school for four years, she founded the rap group Sweet 'n' Sour with a friend, before then began attending Sylvia Young Theatre School full time.

Career: Amy Winehouse first began making her own music at the age of fourteen after buying a guitar. After spending some time doing live performances, a friend of Winehouse sent her demo tape to a manager, with Winehouse becoming signed to 19 Management in 2002 for 250 GBP per week. Winehouse began producing music, however it went unreleased as the management chose not to reveal her to the industry. On 20th October 2003, 'Frank', Winehouse's debut studio album, was released. The album received glowing reviews and went on to become triple platinum. While 'Frank' - named in honour of Frank Sinatra - was very jazz-influenced, Winehouse focused on 50s and 60s girl groups for her second album. On 27th October 2006, Winehouse released 'Back to Black'. The acclaimed album received 6 Grammy Awards, before going on to become the second best-selling album in the UK in the 21st Century by 2011.

Personal Life: In 2006, Amy Winehouse dated Alex Clare. A year later, she married Blake Fielder-Civil after dating him on and off for several years. Fielder-Civil was imprisoned for assault in 2008, and Winehouse began seeing Josh Bowman. Winehouse and Fielder-Civil divorced in 2009. Fielder-Civil revealed later that during their time together, he had introduced her to cocaine and heroin.

Death: On 23th July 2011, paramedics arrived at Winehouse's London home at 3:54 pm, after a call from her bodyguard that revealed she was not moving and had stopped breathing. She was pronounced dead at the scene, with an investigation on 26th October 2011 revealing that her blood alcohol level was over five-times more than the legal drink-drive limit.

Biography by Contactmusic.com

Tainted Love, Hallelujah And Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: 10 Covers That You Probably Know Better Than The Originals

By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 08 December 2020

Johnny Cash Soft Cell Cyndi Lauper Blondie Whitney Houston Jeff Buckley Jimi Hendrix Joan Jett Aretha Franklin Mark Ronson Amy Winehouse

The original version isn't always the best.

How many times in your life have you found yourself listening to a song that you think you know inside out, only to discover that that's not even the original version? We're guessing at least once; indeed, it happens to us all. Most commonly when it's a cover of a cover. Here are ten iconic songs that gained more popularity as a cover than as an original...

Johnny Cash at Glastonbury 1994 / Photo Credit: Empics Entertainment/PA Images

Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Original: Gloria Jones
Other notable covers: Marilyn Manson

Continue reading: Tainted Love, Hallelujah And Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: 10 Covers That You Probably Know Better Than The Originals

Friday The 13th Special: The Five Creepiest Stories Of The Music World

By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 13 November 2020

Ozzy Osbourne Mayhem Nine Inch Nails Rolling Stones Amy Winehouse

True stories of music and the macabre...

Happy Friday the 13th to those who love all things strange and sensationalist! Today we thought we'd feed that morbid streak by exploring some of the craziest things that have happened in the music industry over the years. Be warned: It's not for the faint-hearted...

1. Ozzy Osbourne's batty stage antics

Probably one of the craziest true stories in rock, Ozzy Osbourne made headlines in 1982 after biting the head off a bat while on stage at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa during his Diary of a Madman Tour. Somebody had thrown the bat on stage during his performance and he, believing it to be made of rubber, seized the opportunity for a bit of theatrical fun.

Continue reading: Friday The 13th Special: The Five Creepiest Stories Of The Music World

Weekly Music Highlights: Musicians Band Together For Nashville, Coronavirus Cancels SXSW And Genesis Announce Comeback Tour

By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 09 March 2020

South by Southwest Taylor Swift Katy Perry Amy Winehouse Justin Bieber Korn Riz Ahmed The Weeknd Genesis Tenacious D

What's new in the music world this week?

The coronavirus seems to be affecting every area of our lives including music at the moment, so we've decided to give it its own section in our Weekly Music Highlights. Along with the Nashville tornado disaster and Riz Ahmed's Brexit truths, we hope music will be a way to bring us together in these tough times.

Music News

The home of country music, Nashville, Tennessee, was struck by four tornadoes on Tuesday (March 3rd) killing 25 people and destroying numerous buildings and homes. Today a benefit gig under the name 'To Nashville, With Love' will take place at the Marathon Music Works, with acts such as Soccer Mommy, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Dan Auerbach and more set to perform. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has donated $1million to a relief fund and expressed her own devastation over the damage of the city she calls home, and a number of guitar companies such as Gibson, Heritage and Harmony are also offering their support to any musicians who may have lost equipment in the disaster with new replacement schemes.

Continue reading: Weekly Music Highlights: Musicians Band Together For Nashville, Coronavirus Cancels SXSW And Genesis Announce Comeback Tour

Camden Town: What Makes This District The Musical Heart Of London

By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 03 March 2020

Madness Amy Winehouse

We explore the musical culture of Camden as Madness and Amy Winehouse receive their stones on the Music Walk of Fame.

In November last year, London unveiled a brand new pop culture attraction in the form of the Music Walk of Fame, and yesterday (March 2nd) ska legends Madness became the second act to be honoured with their own stone. Very appropriately, the Music Walk of Fame is in their hometown of Camden, which is only made more fitting by the rich musical history that this area of London holds.

Madness honoured on the Music Walk of Fame / Photo Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire/PA Images

Much like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Camden's Music Walk of Fame was designed to feature discs on paving slabs in which names of iconic musicians would be etched. The Who were the inaugural recipients of a Walk of Fame stone, and this week two iconic Camden Town heroes are being honoured: Madness and the late great Amy Winehouse.

Continue reading: Camden Town: What Makes This District The Musical Heart Of London

Music News Round-Up: Amy Winehouse Hologram Tour, New Coldplay Film, Fyre Festival Founder Jailed

By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 14 October 2018

Amy Winehouse Coldplay Usher

The latest music news rounded up, including the 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees and a surprise new album from Usher.

Amy Winehouse HOLOGRAM TOUR PLANNED

The late Amy Winehouse is to tour the world again – as a hologram.

A hologrammatic image of the late star, who passed away in 2011 from complications arising from alcohol abuse, will use Winehouse’s original voice recordings and will be projected onto a stage in front of a live band and accompanied by “theatrical stagecraft”, according to production company Base Hologram which is behind the tour.

Continue reading: Music News Round-Up: Amy Winehouse Hologram Tour, New Coldplay Film, Fyre Festival Founder Jailed

Amy Winehouse's Life Could Be Turned Into A West End Stage Show

By Charlotte Court in Movies / TV / Theatre on 09 October 2017

Amy Winehouse

The tragic singer passed away in 2011

Amy Winehouse’s death in 2011 at the poignant age of 27 affected many fans of the star’s music but now it seems the singer’s dad wants to bring his daughter to the West End. Following a difficult film released about the singer, entitled Amy and of which her family said was an "unbalanced" portrayal of her, her father Mitch Winehouse has said he wants the musical to be about more than "just the drugs and the alcohol".

Mitch and Amy Winehouse Amy's father Mitch wants a West End musical about his late daughter

The West End show about her life will feature songs from the songbird's incredible back catalogue - including hits like Rehab and Tears Dry On Their Own.

Continue reading: Amy Winehouse's Life Could Be Turned Into A West End Stage Show

Russell Brand Heaps Praise On Katy Perry And Amy Winehouse In Heartfelt Interview

By Holly Williams in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 06 October 2017

Russell Brand Katy Perry Amy Winehouse

The British sex symbol has a lot of love for these women.

The ever philosophical and articulate Russell Brand has changed a lot in the last decade. He's now a happily married man, a father, clean from his addictions and studying for a degree in Religion in Global Politics - and it seems he has nothing but love for all the women in his life.

Russell Brand at the ITV Studios

It's impossible to forget his whirlwind marriage to popstar Katy Perry in 2010, and he has made some less than flattering comments since their divorce. However, these days her can only look back on their relationship fondly, as he tells Wendy Williams in his latest interview ahead of the release of his new book 'Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions'.

Continue reading: Russell Brand Heaps Praise On Katy Perry And Amy Winehouse In Heartfelt Interview

Jay Z Urged Amy Winehouse To Stay With Him And Beyonce

By Charlotte Court in Music / Festivals on 31 August 2017

Jay Z Amy Winehouse Beyonce Knowles

The British soul singer tragically passed away in 2011 aged 27

It seems the late, great soul singer Amy Winehouse had offers of help from all corners of the world before her tragic death in 2011 and was even offered a place to stay by rap mogul and producer, Jay Z and his superstar singer wife, Beyonce.

Jay Z Jay Z once offered Amy Winehouse a place to stay

As the star promoted his new album 4:44, he spoke about the Back to Black hitmaker - who died aged 27 - and became immediately concerned about her state of mind.

Continue reading: Jay Z Urged Amy Winehouse To Stay With Him And Beyonce

Jay-Z Talks About First Meeting With Amy Winehouse

By Stephanie Chase in Music / Festivals on 28 August 2017

Jay Z Amy Winehouse

The rapper also spoke about the death of friend Chester Bennington.

Jay Z has spoken about the first time he met the late Amy Winehouse, revealing that he told her to “stay with us”.

The rapper told the story in the second part of the interview he did with Elliott Wilson and Brian “B.Dot” Miller for the Rap Radar podcast, where he also spoke about Chester Bennington and his mother Gloria coming out on the 4:44 track Smile.

Jay z Jay-Z

Continue reading: Jay-Z Talks About First Meeting With Amy Winehouse

Cat Stevens On His Comeback

By Clive King on 27 March 2017

Yusuf Islam Beyonce Knowles Amy Winehouse

Cat Stevens has opened up about returning to music in a world of Amy Winehouse and Beyonce.

Cat Stevens says it was challenging coming back into the music industry in the Beyonce and Amy Winehouse era.

The 68-year-old singer/songwriter - who now goes by the name Yusuf Islam after converting to Islam - made a return with his first album under his new moniker for his 12th studio LP 'An Other Cup' in November 2006.

At the time, R&B superstar Beyonce had brought out songs including 'Irreplaceable' and Winehouse - who died in July 2011 from alcohol intoxication aged just 27 - released her critically-acclaimed LP 'Back to Black', and Stevens says it felt like a ''different'' world to return to.

Continue reading: Cat Stevens On His Comeback

Stills from the music video for 'Back To Black' by Amy Winehouse. Originally released in 2006, the single is now 10 years old - London, United Kingdom - Wednesday 26th October 2016

Ten years ago today (27OCT16) Amy Winehouse released her second album Back to Black, which was to become her final record following her untimely death in 2011. The follow-up to her debut Frank was a critical and commercial success around the world, making singer-songwriter Winehouse a household name and thrusting her into the limelight. It topped the charts in the star's native Britain and reached number two in the U.S. Lead single Rehab became her only top 10 hit in America. The hugely personal album, produced by Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, also spawned tracks You Know I'm No Good, Back to Black, Tears Dry on Their Own and Love Is a Losing Game. In 2008 it won Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammy Awards and Rehab was named Record of the Year and Song of the Year. She won five of her six nominations but was unable to attend and perform at the ceremony as her visa was denied while she was seeking treatment for drug addiction. Sales of Back to Black surged after her death, aged 27, with the album even returning to the number one in some European countries. As of late 2015, it had sold 3.59 million copies in the U.K., making it the 13th best-selling album of all time in the country. ** Amy Winehouse performs at Lollapalooza Featuring: Amy Winehouse performs at Lollapalooza Where: Lollapalooza, Illinois, United States When: 05 Aug 2007

Ten, Amy Winehouse, Back, Black, Grammy Awards and Lollapalooza

Ten years ago today (27OCT16) Amy Winehouse released her second album Back to Black, which was to become her final record following her untimely death in 2011. The follow-up to her debut Frank was a critical and commercial success around the world, making singer-songwriter Winehouse a household name and thrusting her into the limelight. It topped the charts in the star's native Britain and reached number two in the U.S. Lead single Rehab became her only top 10 hit in America. The hugely personal album, produced by Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, also spawned tracks You Know I'm No Good, Back to Black, Tears Dry on Their Own and Love Is a Losing Game. In 2008 it won Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammy Awards and Rehab was named Record of the Year and Song of the Year. She won five of her six nominations but was unable to attend and perform at the ceremony as her visa was denied while she was seeking treatment for drug addiction. Sales of Back to Black surged after her death, aged 27, with the album even returning to the number one in some European countries. As of late 2015, it had sold 3.59 million copies in the U.K., making it the 13th best-selling album of all time in the country. ** Amy Winehouse with her dad Mitch Winehouse The Q Awards 2006 held at The Grosvenor House hotel - press room London, England - 30.10.06 Featuring: Amy Winehouse with her dad Mitch Winehouse Where: London, United Kingdom When: 30 Oct 2006

Ten, Amy Winehouse, Back, Black, Grammy Awards and The Q Awards

Ten years ago today (27OCT16) Amy Winehouse released her second album Back to Black, which was to become her final record following her untimely death in 2011. The follow-up to her debut Frank was a critical and commercial success around the world, making singer-songwriter Winehouse a household name and thrusting her into the limelight. It topped the charts in the star's native Britain and reached number two in the U.S. Lead single Rehab became her only top 10 hit in America. The hugely personal album, produced by Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, also spawned tracks You Know I'm No Good, Back to Black, Tears Dry on Their Own and Love Is a Losing Game. In 2008 it won Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammy Awards and Rehab was named Record of the Year and Song of the Year. She won five of her six nominations but was unable to attend and perform at the ceremony as her visa was denied while she was seeking treatment for drug addiction. Sales of Back to Black surged after her death, aged 27, with the album even returning to the number one in some European countries. As of late 2015, it had sold 3.59 million copies in the U.K., making it the 13th best-selling album of all time in the country. ** Amy Winehouse performs at Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Concert in Hyde Park. London, England - 27.06.08 Featuring: Amy Winehouse performs Where: London, United Kingdom When: 27 Jun 2008