Although it seemed that the final chapter of the often sad life and very premature death of singer Amy Winehouse closed with her autopsy, cremation and funeral, it appears that the wound of the loss of their daughter will be reopened for the Winehouse family as some very troubling questions have emerged about the qualifications of the woman who served as coroner on Winehouse’s death inquest.

The findings from the investigation into Winehouse’s death were made public in a hearing at St Pancras Coroner’s Court in London back at the end of last October, but what the Winehouse family- as well as the general public- did not know was that the coroner responsible for ruling Winehouse’s death to be due to alcohol poisoning and “misadventure” soon resigned after serious questions were raised regarding fitness to perform her job. Suzanne Greenaway’s name became widely notable following her role in the investigation into Winehouse’s cause of death, and it was soon revealed- not publicly- that she had been appointed to the position by her husband, Andrew Reid, in 2009.

What was also discovered was that Greenaway sorely lacked in qualifications required to perform her job. While five years at the Law Society are one requirement, Greenaway logged fewer than three. And though being a “qualified medical professional” is another necessity, Greenaway’s standing as a nurse in her native Australia “fell short” of what is expected to adequately perform duties as a coroner.

Her husband has since admitted his error in hiring Greenaway, saying:

“I believed at the time that her experience as a solicitor and barrister in Australia satisfied the requirements of the post. In November of last year it became apparent that I had made an error in the appointment process and I accepted her resignation.”

It seems Reid did not violate any laws with the questionable hire of Greenaway, but the revelation has upset the Winehouse family- who are reportedly reviewing their legal options in the wake of the news. It is said that while the investigation into Winehouse’s death could be re-opened, as of now, it is not thought to be a likely outcome.

Amy Winehouse’s Death Inquiry Second Guessed as Coroner Resigns is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mitch Winehouse says the Winehouse family were shocked to see the pictures:

“The family was upset to see those pictures, they were a total shock. We’re still grieving for her loss, and we’ve had a difficult week with the six-month anniversary of Amy’s death.”

Talking about the image of Amy Winehouse being used for profit, Mitch Winehouse said:

“To see her image lifted wholesale to sell clothes was a wrench we were not expecting or consulted on. We’re proud of her influence on fashion but find black veils on models, smoking cigarettes with a barbershop quartet singing her music in bad taste. It portrays a view of Amy when she was not at her best, and glamorises some of the more upsetting times in her life. That’s upsetting for her family.”

In mentioning the Amy Winehouse Foundation, set up to help vulnerable young people, Mitch Winehouse then said:

“No one asked us for permission or offered to make a donation to the foundation. This is purely about Gaultier making money, and that’s wrong.”

Jean Paul Gaultier stated that the fashion was meant as a tribute and that Amy Winehouse had a great sense of fashion:

“She was an icon of fashion and truly, the sense of how she mixed the clothes — it was great. It was very Eighties but did it in a very modern way. It is very joyous.”

What do you think, was Jean Paul Gaultier’s fashion show cynical or well-meaning in nature?

Source: The Sun

Amy Winehouse Tribute Fashion Show “Bad Taste” is a post from: The Inquisitr

When asked how he wants this exhibition to be viewed, Jack Dowd answered that the “exhibition is not a memorial, but a celebration of 10 great musicians who knowingly paid the ultimate price because that is how they had to do it. They just had to live their potential 70 years in a fast forward 27 years, their gift was our gift, so please take it!”

Asked about his favourite 27 Club Member, Jack Dowd says: “My favorite “27 club” member would be Alan (blind owl) Wilson, was little known and appreciated, who founded the band “Canned Heat”. He was their song writer, lead singer, lead guitar, and harmonica player.”

“But I cannot end this interview without mentioning Robert Johnson, the very first member of the “27″ who died in 1938 the very year I was born. He was a delta blues guitar player and singer who influenced and inspired the likes of Clapton, Jagger, Richards, Hendrix, Cobain, Mayall, Brian Jones, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green, BB King and more. Without his influence there would not be the great rock music we know today.”

And here is a remarkable selection of popular artists who died at the age of 27:

Robert Johnson
Brian Jones
Jimi Hendrix
Janis Joplin
Jim Morrison
Kurt Cobain
Richey Edwards
Amy Winehouse

See more of Jack Dowd’s work and read his interview at Sarasota Visual Art.

Jack Dowd Celebrates The 27 Club is a post from: The Inquisitr

The late Amy Winehouse will be honored at the 2011 VH1 Divas concert on Sunday, December 18. According to reports honoring the deceased singer will be the likes of Florence Welsh, Sharon Jones, Dap-Kings and Wanda Jackson.

Florence Welsh and Wanda Jackson will sing the Winehouse hit Back to Black which will then be followed by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings taking on You Know I’m No Good.

Also expected to honor the singer is superstar Mary J. Blige, former top American Idol’s Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson and Jill Scott, Jessie J and Florence and the Machine.

The show airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT Monday on VH1.

If you’re a fan of soul music the VH1 divas concert is also slated to play host to a second tribute about the birthplaces of that musical genre including Chicago, Detroit, London, Philadelphia and Memphis, Tennessee. It’s still unclear what soulful sounds will be heard at the concert but setting the tone for those songs will be the events house band The Roots while Roots member ?uestlove has taken on the responsibility of musical director.

Also performing at tonight’s live show will be Boyz II Men and Travie McCoy.

Do you plan on tuning in for the VH1 Diva’s show for the Amy Winehouse or soul tributes?

VH1 Divas Will Honor Amy Winehouse, Soul Music Genre is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amy Winehouse’s posthumous album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, was released today in the UK. The album will hit stores in the United States.

The five-time Grammy Award winner, who passed away earlier this year, recorded the 12 tracks on the new album between 2002 and 2008.  Producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, who worked with Winehouse on several other projects, selected the songs for Winehouse’ posthumous album.

So far, the album is receiving mixed reviews. The New York Times writes:

“Her vocal is jazzy, jumpy and improvisational, with the flutter she picked up from Erykah Badu and the flintiness she learned from Dinah Washington; it’s also thin, slurred and sometimes unintelligible.”

According to Business Week, some of Winehouse’s leftover material had to be stretched a bit to make full tracks. “Like Smoke,” for instance, was just a scat demo Winehouse made. But now the song has some additional strings and some guest vocals from Nas.

Here’s “Like Smoke” featuring Nas.

Winehouse’s new album also features some previously released tracks like her recent duet with Tony Bennett.

Lioness: Hidden Treasures also features a few Motown inspired hits like “Between the Cheats.”

The new album also includes a few covers, like Leon Russell’s “A Song For You.”

The album also includes alternative versions of hit songs like “Valerie.”

Amy Winehouse’s posthumous album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures will be available on iTunes and Amazon starting tomorrow for fans in the United States. The album is currently available for pre-order for $9.99.

What do you think of Amy Winehouse’s final album?

Listen to Amy Winehouse’s Posthumous Album; Available Tomorrow Worldwide [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The printed chiffon dress worn by Amy Winehouse on the cover of her Back to Black album has sold at auction for a cool $67,000.

The dress, created in 2006 by Thailand-based designer Disaya and loaned to Winehouse for the Back to Black cover shoot, was snapped up by Musea de la Moda, a fashion museum based in Santiago, Chile. The proceeds from the sale will go to a foundation set up in Winehouse’s name, while the dress looks set to become an iconic piece of rock and pop legend.

The sale was watched by Mitch Winehouse (pictured above), father of the late singer musician Amy Winehouse. He seemed thrilled with the final sum raised by the auction:

“We are just over the moon and we owe a great debt to the designer, Disaya, who donated the proceeds from the sale.”

The Winehouse Foundation, set up to help vulnerable young people, has already made three separate donations of £10,000 ($17,000) to various children’s charities. A hospice and a project that assists ill babies are amongst those who have received donations.

At the same auction, organised by Kerry Taylor Auctions, dresses worn by Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor were sold.

Here’s the dress on the lady herself:

Amy Winehouse Dress Sold for $67,000 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Whether you felt Amy Winehouse was a great talent cut down in her prime or someone who failed to use her many resources to overcome her persistant problems, one thing most people can agree upon is that after her death at 27, the artist had little chance to leave much behind professionally.

Her album “Back to Black” was extremely well-received- perhaps catapulting her towards the fame that ultimately had a big hand in precipitating her premature death. And prior to “Back to Black” came “Frank,” her first album that, while not a breakout, was critically acclaimed and is a big part of her legacy.

But perhaps not surprisingly, Winehouse left some unfinished business behind when she passed away in July. The singer had some unreleased tracks, tracks that her family feels are well up to the standard of her studio work.

Amy’s grieving dad Mitch said that listening to his daughter sing after her death, when the pressure to save Amy had dissipated, was a different experience. He explains:

“I spent so much time chasing after Amy — telling her off — that I never realised what a true genius she was.

“It wasn’t until I sat down with the rest of the family and listened to this album that I fully appreciated the breadth of her talent. From jazz standards to hip-hop songs, it took my breath away.”

Mitch Winehouse also spoke about her lack of awareness when it came to her own hits. He tells of shopping with Amy after she became famous, and noticing one of her songs playing over the store’s speakers. He says:

“As we were waiting, one of her songs came on, I think it was Stronger Than Me. She just looked at me and said, ‘Is that one of my songs, Dad?’ She genuinely didn’t listen to her own music after it was recorded. She wouldn’t wallow in her success. That’s what was so lovely — she was just Amy. No ego about her.”

The album- “Amy Winehouse, Lioness: Hidden Treasures” will be out December 5th, and £1 from every sale will go to the singer’s memorial foundation.

Amy Winehouse Posthumous Works Set For Release is a post from: The Inquisitr

Three months after Amy Winehouse’s “sudden and unexpected death,” an inquiry has revealed the events leading up to the singer’s demise at the age of 27.

Winehouse’s struggles with drugs and alcohol were well documented, but her death was still a surprise to many as it appeared she was making significant improvements and looking after herself more aggressively in the weeks before she died. The inquest into Winehouse’s death revealed that after three weeks of sobriety, Amy fell into a pattern she’d experienced before of relapsing- but that the final time was fatal.

At the time of her death, Winehouse had consumed five times the legal limit of alcohol for driving, 80mg per 100ml of blood- her blood alcohol level was 416mg of alcohol per 100mls. Law enforcement officials responding to the scene found three bottles of vodka near Winehouse’s body. The coroner noted that 200mg of alcohol is an amount that would cause loss of reflexes, and that 350mg approaches risk of fatality.

The night before her death, Dr. Christina Romete, Winehouse’s GP, met with the singer. She said:

“The advice I had given to Amy over a long period of time was verbal and in written form about all the effects alcohol can have on the system, including respiratory depression and death, heart problems, fertility problems and liver problems… She had her own way and was very determined to do everything her own way. Including any form of therapy. She had very strict views.”

St. Pancras coroner Suzanne Greenway noted:

“[Amy] had consumed sufficient alcohol at 416mg per decilitre (of blood) and the unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden and unexpected death.”

Amy Winehouse Died of Alcohol Poisoning is a post from: The Inquisitr

To commemorate what could have been the 28th birthday of Amy Winehouse, the track and video of “Body and Soul” will be released in its entirety on September 14, Wednesday.

“Body and Soul” was recorded by Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett on March 23, 2011 at Abbey Road Studios in London. It was the final recording of Winehouse before her death on July 23.

In a statement that pays tribute to the talent of Winehouse, Bennett said:

“We had a beautiful time recording in the studio and I knew that Amy was very happy with how she performed that day. I thought she was absolutely brilliant and this recording truly captures the essence of her unique artistry. She was a rare talent.”

On Wednesday, MTV Networks will premiere the video at 6:00am ET. MTV, VH!, MTV Hits and MTV U will play the video every hour throughout the morning. MTV.com and radio stations across the country will also be playing the track as part of the launch.

The recording session was filmed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe (“Chicago,” “Memoirs Of A Geisha”) as part of a major documentary film on Bennett in the works. “Body and Soul” is one of 17 tracks to be included on Tony Bennett’s forthcoming CD, DUETS II, due out in the US on September 20.  

Released in honor of Bennett’s 85th birthday, which he celebrated on August 3rd of this year, the album features a celebrated roster of artists who all recorded with Bennett live in the studio including Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, Queen Latifah, Carrie Underwood and John Mayer.

Proceeds of the “Body and Soul” single and video will be donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

Worldwide Release of Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett’s “Body and Soul” Set to September 14 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Anderson Cooper recently interviewed Mitch Winehouse about his daughters (Amy Winehouse) death and in the interview to air Monday on the new talk show Anderson he tells Cooper that his daughter may have died from a detox seizure and “there was nobody there to rescue her.”

Mitch made his statement after it was discovered that no illegal drugs were in Winehouse’s body at the time of her death, although an “undetermined” amount of alcohol was found in her blood stream.

Mitch tells Anderson Cooper:

“Everything Amy did, she did to excess. She drank to excess and did detox to excess,” while he went on to add, “periods of abstinence were becoming longer, and the periods of drinking were becoming shorter. It was heading in the right direction.”

He added that Amy had suffered from seizures in the past that would cause her to pass out, although he says until he knows for sure he’ll be waiting for an inquest to be completed in October.

Mitch said of his daughters life with and without drugs:

“When she wasn’t drinking, she was absolutely on top of the world.

Tune in to the new Anderson Cooper talk show on Monday to find out more about Amy Winehouse from her family members who until this time have been relatively silent about Amy’s passing.

Mitch Winehouse Says Daughter May Have Died From Detox Seizure is a post from: The Inquisitr

Edwards is no stranger to creating busts of known public figures, his past work has included the likes of Nadya “Octomom” Suleman, Britney Spears and even Angelina Jolie breastfeeding.

While critics call the move “too soon” Edwards is of course defending his topless bust, calling it a “tribute” to the late Grammy award winning singer.

“I thought of her as a beautifully delicate fairytale princess, waiting to be rescued from fame and addiction, but her prince never came,” he explains. “I had always expected to sculpt her portrait, but I was waiting for her to put some of her troubles behind her. She had made me pay attention to contemporary music again.”

I personally see Daniel’s work as being “shocking” in the name of publicity, but given some of the comments made about Winehouse’s drug addiction and hard partying lifestyle I don’t see why critics are upset, the bust at least looks like a healthy version of the singer while he could have easily went in a darker direction with his creation. Perhaps the topless Amy Winehouse bust really is meant to be a tribute to a great singer and not a shameless publicity point, then again it’s probably both.

What to you think of this Winehouse “tribute.”

Topless Bust Of Amy Winehouse Draws Criticism, Pays Tribute is a post from: The Inquisitr

Part of the Amy Winehouse story will be told on September 12 when newscaster Anderson Cooper sits down with the Winehouse Family, the first guests for his new talk show titled Anderson.

The interview will include Amy’s Grammy award winning parents Mitch and Janice, along with her brother Alex and her last boyfriend Reg Traviss.

It will also mark the first time the family has talked about Amy’s death since she was found in July in her North London apartment.

A full inquest is still expected for Amy’s passing next month, although most fans and critics have long suspected that her drug addiction led to her passing, a toxicology report which showed no illegal substances in her body.

Since the talk show is new you’ll want to check local listed for showtimes.

Do you think Amy Winehouse’s family should be going on the air to talk about their family member? Leave us your thoughts.

Anderson Cooper To Interview Amy Winehouse’s Family On September 12 is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from George Michael, so much so you can almost be forgiven for thinking first of Michael Cera on Arrested Development when his name is mentioned.

But the pop star is still very much active, playing a series of concerts- and announcing during one of the “emotional” performances that he had called it quits with long-term partner Kenny Goss. Michael seemed to abruptly announce the break-up, but claims it occurred more than two years ago. He made the admission as a lead-in to a song he’d written. “Where I Hope You Are.” The singer said:

“My battles with substances are well-documented and my partner went through similar problems with drink… The truth is my love life has been a lot more turbulent than I have let on. This is probably the first break-up song I’ve written.”

Last fall, Michael spent nearly a month in prison in Suffolk after he drunkenly crashed a car into a shopfront in North London. Although he said he didn’t love the experience, that it was “logical,” and that he felt after the incident he had to “pay a bill” to society. While the cooling-off jail time may have given the singer perspective, he also says it helped him pick up another old vice- nicotine.

However, he thinks he may have found a way to cut down again- using Twitter to replace smoke breaks. He said:

“Of course within a week, because there was barely anything else to do in there, I was back hooked on the nicotine. Now I’m trying not to smoke cigarettes – what I’ve found is tweeting gives me something to do.”

During the performance- the first on his new tour- Michael became visibly saddened when paying tribute to Amy Winehouse by performing a cover of “Love is a Losing Game.”

George Michael Confirms Break-Up, Says Twitter Helped Him Quit Smoking is a post from: The Inquisitr

After debuting a slew of new upbeat tunes including “Hurts Like Heaven” and “Us Against the World,” songs slated to make the track list on the alternative rock band’s forthcoming fifth album, lead vocalist Chris Martin slowed things down a bit and serenaded the sun-soaked attendees of the festival with a somber take on the chorus of Amy Winhouse’s Rehab.

Martin promptly followed the Winehouse tribute by segueing into his own band’s hit, “Fix You,” another touching melody which he reportedly wrote for his wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, following the death of her father Bruce.

With chillingly meaningful lyrics like,”When you try your best but you don’t succeed, when you get what you want but not what you need…when you love someone but it goes to waste, what can be worse,” Fix You created an amazing memorial to Winehouse that those in attendance will never forget.

Following Lollapalooza, Coldplay is scheduled to play at Austin City Limits Festival on September 16th, the iHeartRadio Festival on the 23rd, and Atlanta’s Midtown Music festival on September 24th.

Watch Coldplay’s “Rehab” tribute to the late singer Amy Winehouse at the Grammy Foundation’s “Grammy in the Schools” Charity concert below:

[img source]

Amy Winehouse Honored by Coldplay at Lollapalooza is a post from: The Inquisitr

A foundation set up in memory of troubled British soul singer Amy Winehouse will be housed in her London home, Amy’s Dad Mitch Winehouse has announced.

Winehouse was found dead in her home in Camden last month at the age of 27, and while the songstress has long been known to struggle with substance abuse- her biggest hit, “Rehab,” chronicled industry pressure for her to get and stay sober- an autopsy performed after her death revealed no obvious cause of death. Toxicology tests on Winehouse’s body are pending, and are not expected to be officially entered until a hearing planned for October.

In the meantime, a foundation in Winehouse’s name is in the process of being set up by her family, although the details of its focus are not yet clear:

“Something to help the things she loved — children, horses — but also to help those struggling with substance abuse,” he said. “In this country, if you cannot afford a private rehabilitation clinic, there is a two year waiting list for help… We are trying to change that.”

Last week, Amy’s dad tweeted about the Amy Winehouse Foundation, saying:

Once again, thank you for your love. The foundation is going to help thousands of people. that is Amy’s legacy. Mitch

According to UK paper The Sun, Winehouse’s family expressed concern that a sale of the house would appeal to buyers who are interested in it for the wrong reasons:

“They think it’s too precious to give up, hence the new HQ idea… They don’t want to rent it out and if they sold it they think it could attract the wrong kind of buyer as it was where Amy passed away. They may sell one day but that would be some way off.”

The Amy Winehouse Foundation’s mission statement will be officially released on her birthday, September 14th.

Amy Winehouse’s London Home to House Amy Winehouse Foundation is a post from: The Inquisitr

The death of Amy Winehouse at the age of 27 stunned people, despite her well-documented issues with substance abuse.

Perhaps more shocking is the fact that the troubled chanteuse may have been in the process of adopting a 10-year-old girl when she passed away at the end of July from currently unknown causes. Winehouse’s toxicology results aren’t due back for an official verdict until late in October, but reports have surfaced the singer had taken an interest in the welfare of a young girl from St. Lucia.

According to the NYDN, the girl- Dannika Augustine- is heartbroken about the news of Winehouse’s sudden and early death. Augustine said:

“Amy was already my mother. I would call her mum and she would call me her daughter,” the girl told the paper.

“She was the most amazing person and I was looking forward to living with her here or in London. I cannot believe she is gone. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me.”

Dannika’s 31-year-old mother, Nadia Germaine, said she fully supported the idea, because she was unable to properly provide for her daughter:

“I knew she could give my daughter a wonderful life,” he said.

“I thanked Amy for taking care of my daughter, and she said: ‘Dannika is taking care of me. I couldn’t live without her.’”

However, reps for the singer say that the reports are inaccurate, and that Winehouse did not plan to adopt Dannika Augustine.

Was Amy Winehouse Adopting a Child Before Her Death? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Family, friends, celebrities and musicians gathered today in London to pay their final respects at the funeral of recently deceased soul singer Amy Winehouse.

Winehouse, 27, was found dead in her London home Saturday, not too long after her handlers canceled all her remaining gigs so she could focus on recovery. An autopsy was carried out yesterday, but no cause of death has yet been pinpointed for the singer and an inquest was adjourned until October 26th, pending the results of toxicology reports.

Winehouse’s father paid emotional tribute to his troubled daughter, capping off his eulogy to Amy with the words, ”Goodnight my angel. Sleep tight. Mummy and Daddy love you ever so much.” Winehouse’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Reg Traviss commented:

“I have lost my darling who I loved very much.”

Before Amy’s funeral, her family stopped and spoke with mourners outside her London home. Her father Mitch was quoted as saying:

“You people in the street, I can’t tell you how much this means to us — it really is making this a lot easier for us… Amy was about one thing and that was love, her whole life was devoted to her family and her friends and to you guys as well.

“We’re devastated and I’m speechless but thanks for coming.”

Winehouse is expected to be cremated later today, with a service at a synagogue following her funeral.

Amy Winehouse’s Funeral Held in London is a post from: The Inquisitr

Family and friends of Amy Winehouse will have the opportunity to pay their respects to the Rehab singer on Tuesday when her family has planned a private funeral for the Grammy Award winning singer.

A family spokesperson has also announced that a public funeral will be held “as soon as possible.”

Coroners have not yet ruled Winehouse’s cause of death, however they have issued an interim death certificate so her family can at least make arrangements for her funeral.

It should be noted that Winehouse is Jewish and therefore tradition requires that her body be buried as quickly as possible after death.

In the meantime here’s one of the singer’s performances in remembrance of her amazing talent:

When she wanted to and was sober enough, she could definitely deliver some amazing passionate vocals to her fans, it’s just too bad she slipped so quickly and her talent was extinguished like so many other brilliant 27-year-old singers and songwriters.

Amy Winehouse Private Funeral Planned For Tuesday is a post from: The Inquisitr

An autopsy carried out on recently deceased singer Amy Winehouse did not determine a cause of death, the coroner has said, and the circumstances of the musician’s death are still being investigated.

Winehouse was found unresponsive in bed in her London home on Saturday, and press and fans had already swarmed the scene by the time her body was removed from the residence, draped in a wine-colored sheet. Amy Winehouse’s cause of death was not immediately obvious both at the scene and following the post-mortem, and coroner Sharon Duff stated the following in court at the conclusion of the examination:

“I bring before you the death of Amy Jade Winehouse aged 27, born on the 14th September 1983 in London. She was a divorced woman living in Camden Square NW1. She was certified dead at her home by a paramedic and a doctor on July 23. She was a singer songwriter at the time of her death and was identified by her family here at St Pancras this morning. A section 20 post mortem has been carried out and histology and toxicology taken to determine the cause of death. The scene was investigated by police and determined non-suspicious.”

It was not disclosed when the results of toxicology tests on Winehouse could be expected, but Assistant Deputy Coroner Suzanne Greenaway indicated she’d be “issuing interim certificates to allow Miss Winehouse’s family to make arrangements for the funeral.” The case was adjourned until October 26th.

Amy Winehouse Autopsy ‘Inconclusive,’ No Cause of Death Established is a post from: The Inquisitr

The death of Amy Winehouse at age 27 caused an immediate outpouring of grief and love from the singer’s fans and from many celebrities, including Russell Brand and Lady Gaga just to name a few.

Brand, the 36-year-old “Arthur” star who also openly battled addictions of his own during his career, took to his blog and composed a heartfelt message to the late singer:

From her oddly dainty presence that voice, a voice that seemed not to come from her but from somewhere beyond even Billie and Ella, from the font of all greatness. A voice that was filled with such power and pain that it was at once entirely human yet laced with the divine. My ears, my mouth, my heart and mind all instantly opened. Winehouse. Winehouse? Winehouse! … She wasn’t just some hapless wannabe, yet another [expletive] up nit who was never gonna make it, nor was she even a ten-a-penny-chanteuse enjoying her fifteen minutes. She was a [expletive] genius.

Lady Gaga, who previously credited Winehouse with “opening the door for artists who dared to be different,” posted the following message on Twitter:

“Amy changed pop music forever, I remember knowing there was hope, and feeling not alone because of her. She lived jazz, she lived the blues.”

While Amy’s official cause of death is still unknown, it was believed the Grammy-winning singer died from a drug overdose, after battling with drugs, alcohol, eating disorders and severe depression for much of her short life.

Winehouse is survived by her father, mother, and older brother, Alex.

via Washington Post

Russell Brand, Lady Gaga Take Time to Remember Amy Winehouse is a post from: The Inquisitr