Her taxi driver father, Mitchell, was a jazz enthusiast and often sang songs to his daughter as she grew up. She trained at the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School from the age of eight and, by the time she was 10, had formed a rap group with one of her best friends. Winehouse later attended the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School. She began writing music at the age of 14 and a former boyfriend sent a tape of her singing with a jazz band to an A&R man.
It led to a contract with the Island/Universal record label and a publishing deal with EMI. Her debut album Frank, released in 2003, was described by The Times newspaper as "earthy, warm, lived-in and astonishingly versatile". She co-wrote all but two of the songs and won praise for what one reviewer described as "the cool, critical gaze" in the lyrics. Frank was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for album of the year in 2004, and Winehouse won the Ivor Novello song writing award for best contemporary song with Stronger than Me.
It was the critical praise that followed the release of her follow-up album Back to Black in October 2006 that propelled her to international stardom. Rehab, the first track released from, reached number seven in the UK singles chart. The song, about her refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre, generated huge publicity, with Winehouse frequently being photographed drinking on stage and in pubs. In February 2007, she scooped the title for best British female at the Brit Awards and, four months later, she picked up song of the year at the Mojo Awards. Winehouse was again nominated for the Mercury Prize and went on to be named artist of the year at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November.
Too precious and honestly loyal for this earthly world were you.
A body too small, to hold all the talents, that ever shone through.
You have left us your evergreen and timeless soulful music,
But in doing so it left nothing for you to soothe all the pain
Be at peace and search the stars and always feel our love
Goodnight, God bless Amy – we’ve all gone ‘Back to Black’.
