Celebrating the incredible talent of Amy Winehouse ❤️
The biopic Back to Black is out now
It's been 13 years since the untimely death of Amy Winehouse, an incredibly talented musician and performer, who is often heralded as having one of the most beautiful singing voices of all time.
Now, as the biopic about the late singer is released, named after her song and album, 'Back To Black', we take a look at her amazing career.
Inspired by Jazz music, Amy enjoyed huge success during her all-too-short career, releasing two studio albums 'Frank' and 'Back to Black', along with chart-topping singles 'Rehab' and 'Valerie', which was a cover of The Zutons' song. She changed the landscape of pop music forever.
Amy sadly died on 23rd July 2011 at the age of 27, leaving a legacy of incredible music and the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which works with young people to improve their confidence and self-esteem.
Back to Black was released on 12th April, and stars Industry actress Marisa Abela as Amy, along with Jack O'Connell, Eddie Marsan, and Lesley Manville. The film follow's Amy's life as she becomes famous, including her performance at Glastonbury in 2008.
Take a look at Amy Winehouse's career:
2002: Career beginnings
Amy Winehouse was born on 14th September 1983 to parents Mitch and Janis Winehouse. Amy's talent as a musician was clear from a young age, and started writing her own songs when she was just 15-years-old. At the age of 17, Amy became the featured vocalist for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in the UK.
In the early 2000s, Amy was singing at pubs and bars around London. She was signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and signed to Island Records in 2003.
2003: Debut album 'Frank' released
In 2003, Amy Winehouse released her debut album 'Frank'. Influenced by Amy's love of Jazz music, the album was produced by Salaam Remi and each song was co-written by Amy, except for two covers - '(There Is) No Greater Love' and 'Moody's Mood for Love'.
'Frank' attracted huge critical acclaim and originally achieved number 13 in the UK singles chart. In 2004, the album was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, but lost out to Franz Ferdinand's debut record.
2004: BRIT Awards
Amy was nominated in two categories at the 2004 BRIT Awards, British Urban Act and British Female Solo Artist. Later that year, she took home an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song for her track 'Stronger Than Me'.
2006: 'Back to Black' and 'Rehab'
In October 2006, Amy released seminal album 'Back to Black', her follow-up to debut 'Frank'. 'Back to Black' went to Number 1 in the UK Albums Chart for two consecutive weeks. 'Rehab', the first single from the album, achieved huge critical and commercial success and is often referred to as the singer's signature song. 'Rehab' was produced by Mark Ronson and earned Amy four Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 'Back to Black' was also nominated for Album of the Year.
The album also spawned hit singles 'Tears Dry On Their Own', 'Love Is A Losing Game', 'Back To Black' and 'You Know I'm No Good'.
2007: Glastonbury
Amy performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2007. Later that day, she performed on the Jazz World Stage.
February 2008: 'Valerie' at the BRIT Awards
In February 2008, Amy performed alongside producer Mark Ronson at the BRIT Awards at Earl's Court in London. The pair's popular cover of The Zutons' track featured on Mark Ronson's 2007 album 'Version'.
'Valerie' reached Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and spent 19 consecutive weeks in the Top 20.
2009: Dionne Bromfield and Lioness Records
Amy Winehouse founded record label Lioness Records in 2009 in order to sign her goddaughter, singer Dionne Bromfield. In an interview, Amy said: "The first time I heard Dionne sing, I couldn't believe what I was hearing, such an amazing voice from such a young cat. She's so much better than I was at her age. I'm just so proud of her."
2011: Collaboration with Tony Bennett
Amy's main passion was for jazz music and cited jazz legend Tony Bennett as a huge inspiration for her music. Amy's last ever recording was with Tony Bennett on the track 'Body and Soul' from his 2011 album 'Duets II'. The collaboration was released as a single on 14th September 2011, on what would have been Amy's 28th birthday.
2011: Death and legacy
Amy Winehouse sadly passed away on 23rd July 2011 at 27-years-old. Her parents Mitch and Janis founded the Amy Winehouse Foundation which works "to inspire children and young people to build their self-esteem and resilience, so they can flourish."
2014: Statue in Camden
Sculptor Scott Eaton created a statue of Amy, which was unveiled at Stables Market in Camden, London, on what would have been her 31st birthday - 14th September 2014. Sculptor Eaton told BBC News that it was meant to capture her "attitude and strength, but also give subtle hints of insecurity," while her father Mitch said: "It is like stopping her in a beautiful moment in time. We really hope Amy's fans love the statue."
2015: Amy film released
A film about Amy's life was first announced in 2013, with director Asif Kapadia and film producer James Gay-Rees saying: "Everyone fell under her spell. But tragically, Amy seemed to fall apart under the relentless media attention, her troubled relationships, her global success and precarious lifestyle."
The film was released in July 2015, featuring footage of Amy as well as interviews from those who knew her well - and although her father Mitch did feature in an interview, he later distanced himself from the film, saying on This Morning that he was not "represented" in a good way.
The film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary at the BAFTAs and Best Music Film at the Grammy Awards, among many other accolades.
2020: The Music Walk of Fame in Camden
Amy was honoured on the Music Walk of Fame in Camden in 2020, becoming the third name to be featured on a stone, with her parents telling the BBC that it was a "tremendous accolade and a privilege" for Amy to be a part of it.
2024: Biopic released
Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, Back To Black stars Marisa Abela as Amy, with Jack O'Connell as her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil. Amy's family have supported the project, with a statement from The Amy Winehouse Estate reading: "We are thrilled that STUDIOCANAL, Focus Features and Monumental are making this movie celebrating our daughter Amy's extraordinary music legacy and showcasing her talent in the way that it deserves."
2024: BRIT Billion
Amy posthumously received the BRIT Billion Award on 1st May 2024. This incredible achievement means that her music has collectively had over a billion streams, as explained by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI): "The BRIT Billion award, launched in May 2023, celebrates and acknowledges outstanding achievement in recorded music by surpassing the landmark of one billion career UK streams – as calculated by the Official Charts Company." Her parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, accepted the award on her behalf.
What are Amy Winehouse's biggest songs?
'Rehab'
'Rehab' was written and recorded by Amy Winehouse and was released in October 2006. Produced by Mark Ronson, the track is autobiographical and tells the story of Amy's refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre.
The track earned Amy three Grammy Awards and an Ivor Novello Award.
'Valerie'
A cover of The Zutons, 'Valerie' was a collaboration with producer Mark Ronson and is one of Amy Winehouse's most successful releases. It earned Amy a BRIT Award nomination.
'Tears Dry On Their Own'
Taken from Amy's seminal album 'Back to Black', 'Tears Dry On Their Own' was released in August 2007 as the fourth single from the LP.
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