Amy Jade Winehouse (September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011) was an English singer, songwriter, and musician. With more than 30 million records sold globally, she gained recognition for her rich, expressive contralto voice and her eclectic blend of musical styles, such as soul, rhythm and blues, reggae, and jazz.
In her youth, Winehouse was part of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and signed with Simon Fuller’s 19 Management in 2002. Soon after, she recorded several songs before securing a publishing deal with EMI. Through this collaboration, she formed a creative partnership with producer Salaam Remi. Winehouse’s debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many of the songs on the album, largely co-written by Winehouse (except for two covers), were inspired by jazz. Frank enjoyed both critical acclaim and commercial success, earning a Mercury Prize nomination and winning the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song for “Stronger Than Me.”
Her second album, Back to Black, was released in 2006 and became a massive global success, one of the best-selling albums of all time and a top seller in UK music history. At the 2007 Brit Awards, it was nominated for British Album of the Year, while Winehouse was honored as British Female Solo Artist. The track “Rehab” earned her a second Ivor Novello Award. In 2008, she made history at the 50th Grammy Awards, winning five awards, including three of the prestigious “Big Four” Grammys: Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year for “Rehab.” She was also honored for Best Pop Vocal Album, becoming the first British female artist to win five Grammy Awards in one night.
Despite her immense success, Winehouse faced ongoing battles with substance abuse, mental health issues, and addiction. She passed away at the age of 27 from alcohol poisoning at her Camden Square home in London in 2011, joining the ranks of the tragic “27 Club.” Her brother also suggested that bulimia played a role in her struggles. Following 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. In 2024, her life and career were depicted in the biopic Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.
