British Singer Amy Winehouse Dies at 27



Amy Winehouse at the Eurockéennes of 2007 (Photo: Bojars)

British Singer Amy Winehouse Dies at 27

Saturday, 23 July 2011

Police in Britain say music star Amy Winehouse has been found dead at her home in north London.

A police statement said at this time the death is being treated as “unexplained.”

Winehouse, 27, underwent several rounds of treatment for drug addiction, the latest in May. The singer, known for her heavy tattoos and exaggerated beehive hair style, led a tumultuous life marked by drinking binges and physical altercations with her husband and others.

Last month she canceled a European tour after appearing disoriented and incoherent during her concert in Belgrade. Her performance met with boos and jeers from the audience.

Winehouse, born into a family of jazz musicians, shot to fame in Britain in 2003 with her debut album, called Frank. Her style, influenced by 1960s soul music, was unconventional and has been cited as an influence for later female stars.

She found worldwide success with her second album, the Grammy Award-winning album Back to Black. Her contralto vocals expressed both pain and defiance on her best-known single, “Rehab.”

The refrain to that song describes her reluctance to seek drug treatment: “They tried to make me go to rehab; I said no, no, no.”