P1CD2 ASSESSMENT 1: BIOGRAPHY AMY WINEHOUSE Amy Jade Winehouse, born on September 14, 1983 in Enfield, London, England

was raised in a Jewish family and with Russian ancestry on her mothers side. Her mother was a pharmacist and her father a taxi driver. She grew up with music jazz as her family shared her love for music and theatre, especially her parents whose tastes included Carole King and James Taylor, as well as the jazz classics her father enjoyed. When Winehouse was 12, she entered the Sylvia Young Theatre School. She lasted two years at the theatre school before she was expelled for not applying herself. Winehouse then began to experiment with song writing & soon took up part-time work which included a sting singing with a jazz band. When Winehouse was 19, a close friend of hers and soul singer Tyler James, passed her demo tape to an A&R person. This led to Winehouse signing with 19 Management, the management company owned by Simon Fuller, the man behind American Idol. With this expert backing, Winehouse signed to record label Island/Universal and eventually received a publishing deal with EMI. Winehouse hired a backing band, the Dap-Kings, who had long been supporting New York singer Sharon Jones and set about writing and recording her first album. In early 2003, Winehouse met Blake Fielder-Civil, a music video production assistant, at a local bar. The two began a stormy relationship and Winehouse had his name tattooed over her heart. The same year, at age 19, she recorded her debut album, titled Frank, a classy blend of jazz, pop, soul and hip-hop, combined with world-wise lyrics. Frank was received well by critics and prompted comparison with a host of artists including Sarah Vaughan, Macy Gray, Billie Holiday and Lauryn Hill. The album marked the beginning of her collaboration with producer Salaam Remi. Frank was nominated for two Brit Awards for British Female Solo Act and British Urban Act. Winehouse also won the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song for 'Stronger Than Me'. On the back of the albums success, Winehouse performed at Glastonbury on the Jazzworld stage and at the V Festival. In 2005, Winehouse teamed up with producer Mark Ronson and began writing her second album after an 18-month song-writing hiatus. Winehouse said Ronsons involvement was so inspirational she wrong the album in six months. The album entitled Back to Black was released on October 27, 2006 and was the last album released in her lifetime. It is the second highest selling album of the 21st century. The album incorporates 1960s soul music styles and modern R&B production, with subjective lyrics that concern relationships and reflect on Winehouse's experiences with drinking, sex, and drugs. Speculation about Winehouses lifestyle began as her fame grew and her weight was particularly targeted with the once-curvy singer appearing to drop several dress sizes in 2006. Winehouse told an interviewer the weight loss was due to cutting back on marijuana use. Winehouses tempestuous relationship with Fielder-Civil was the catalyst for much of her destructive behaviour. During one break-up Winehouse admitted to drowning her sorrows in

booze but she also used the heart-break as impetus in writing her new album. Her drug and alcohol intake increasingly affected her live performances, as she turned up to several club or TV performances too drunk to complete her set. Her management company suggested she enter rehab but rather than take their advice Winehouse dumped the management company and turned the experience into the catchiest song on her new album- They tried to make me go to rehab. I said, No, no, no... Winehouse later told The Sun newspaper she did go to rehab but did not last long: I did, for just 15 minutes. I went in and said, Hello and explained that I drink because I'm in love and have f****** up the relationship. Then I walked out." Fielder-Civil was responsible for introducing Winehouse to hard drugs, according to the Daily Mail. He confirmed this to the News of the World in 2008. I made the biggest mistake of my life by taking heroin in front of her, he said. I introduced her to heroin, crack cocaine, and self-harming. I feel more than guilty. That same year, he also allegedly sold nude photos of Winehouse for heroin. Her big break came in 2008. Winehouse became the first British female to win five Grammy Awards on the same night, February 10th, 2008, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year for 'Rehab'. Her Grammy performance was broadcast from London via satellite, because she was unable to appear in person in Los Angeles due to temporary problems with her traveling visa. Following her success at the Grammy Awards, Winehouse gave a string of highly successful performances during the year 2008. In June, she was suddenly hospitalized with a serious lung condition. However, she left hospital for one evening to perform for Nelson Mandela on his 90th birthday celebration in London's Hyde Park. She sang her hits Rehab and Valerie, drawing cheers and applause form the crowds and a smile from Mandela. Winehouse also performed for English Football club Chelseas owner, Roman Abramovich's party in Moscow; there she earned $2 million for her one-hour gig. Amy Winehouse developed a distinctive style of her own. Her signature beehive hairstyle has become the model for fashion designers, while her vulnerability, her fragile personality and self-destructive behaviour has been regular tabloid news, and subject of criticism and controversy. In April 2008 she was named the second greatest "ultimate heroine" by the British population at large, and a month later was voted the second most hated personality in the UK. George Michael called her the "best female vocalist he has heard in his entire career," while Keith Richards warned that she "won't be around long" if her behaviour doesn't change.

Amy Winehouse influenced the world of music in epic proportions despite her publicly known drug and alcohol fuelled lifestyle which at times would overshadow her music and her success.

Amy Winehouse died at the age of 27, on 23 July 2011, in her London home. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and her ashes were laid to rest in Edgwarebury Jewish Cemetery in London, United Kingdom. Her death caused considerable mourning worldwide.

Bibliography http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/amy-winehouse.html http://www.allmusic.com/artist/amy-winehouse-mn0000627026 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1561881/bio