Amy Winehouse

English Musician
Amy Winehouse was a renowned British singer-songwriter known for her soulful and eclectic music style, as well as her struggles with substance abuse. She had a breakout debut album, Frank, and her follow-up, Back to Black, became a huge international success, earning her multiple Grammy awards before her untimely passing at the age of 27.

About Amy Winehouse

Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was a British singer and songwriter known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, reggae, and jazz.

Winehouse was a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in her youth, signing to Simon Fuller’s 19 Management in 2002 and soon recording a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers. Winehouse’s debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many of the album’s songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, were co-written by Winehouse. Frank was a critical and commercial success in the UK, and beyond, and was nominated for the UK’s Mercury Prize. The song “Stronger Than Me” won her the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

Winehouse released her follow-up album, Back to Black, in 2006. The album went on to become a huge international success and one of the best-selling albums of all time, as well as one of the best-selling albums in UK history. At the 2007 Brit Awards, it was nominated for British Album of the Year and Winehouse received the award for British Female Solo Artist. The song “Rehab” won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night and becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys. These included three of the General Field “Big Four” Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for “Rehab”), as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.

Winehouse struggled throughout her life with substance abuse, mental illness and addiction. She died, at her Camden Square home in London, of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011, at the age of 27. Her brother believed that bulimia was also a factor. After her death, Back to Black briefly became the UK’s best-selling album of the 21st century. VH1 ranked Winehouse 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music. Her life and career was dramatised in a 2024 biopic, Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.

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Frequently asked questions about Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse’s music was influenced by a variety of genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, reggae, and jazz.

Amy Winehouse’s debut album was titled ,Frank,, released in 2003.

At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, Amy Winehouse won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night.

Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 27 in her Camden Square home in London.

A biopic about Amy Winehouse’s life, titled ,Back to Black,, was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and released in 2024.

The song ,Rehab, won Amy Winehouse a second Ivor Novello Award.

Amy Winehouse’s follow-up album to her debut ,Frank, was titled ,Back to Black,, released in 2006.