Amy Winehouse joined the 27 club on July 23, 2011. The cause of death is recorded as: Alcohol poisoning
Amy Jade Winehouse, born on September 14, 1983, and tragically passed away on July 23, 2011, was an English singer-songwriter renowned for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres. A prodigious talent, Winehouse's influences spanned soul, rhythm and blues, reggae, and jazz.
Winehouse's early life was deeply intertwined with music. Born to Jewish parents, Mitchell "Mitch" Winehouse, a window panel installer and taxi driver, and Janis Winehouse (née Seaton), a pharmacist, Amy grew up in London's Southgate area. Her maternal uncles were professional jazz musicians, and her paternal grandmother, Cynthia, had been a singer and had dated the English jazz saxophonist Ronnie Scott. These familial influences significantly shaped Amy's love for jazz. She attended Osidge Primary School and Ashmole School before joining Susi Earnshaw Theatre School at the age of nine to further her vocal education and learn tap dance.
Winehouse's music career took off in earnest when she signed with Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002. Her debut album, Frank, released in 2003, was a critical success in the UK, showcasing her songwriting skills and powerful voice. With many of its tracks influenced by jazz, Frank earned nominations for the Mercury Prize and received the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song for "Stronger Than Me." Her follow-up album, Back to Black (2006), propelled her to international fame and garnered numerous accolades, including five Grammy Awards at the 50th ceremony in 2008. Winehouse's successes also came with significant personal struggles; she battled substance abuse, mental illness, and addiction, which tragically led to her untimely death from alcohol poisoning at age 27.
Despite these challenges, Amy Winehouse left a lasting legacy in the music world. Her raw, soulful voice and unique blend of musical genres have inspired generations of artists. Back to Black briefly became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century, and VH1 ranked her 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music. In 2024, her life and career were dramatized in a biopic titled "Back to Black," directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. Winehouse's impact transcends her brief but extraordinary musical career, leaving an indelible mark on the history of soulful music.