The Tameside Radio presenter pays tribute to the late singer and reflects on her career on the 10th anniversary of her death.

Friday (23 July) is ten years to the day since we lost Amy Winehouse. 

A singer who, in my opinion, is the best female singer to have been a hit recording artist of my generation. 

Born in Enfield, North London, on September 14, 1983, to Jewish parents, Amy became a big fan of music, especially jazz, at a very young age. 

Her heroes were Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington, and at the age of 14 she bought herself her first guitar. 

She quickly became a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, where she soon  became the band’s featured vocalist. 

Her best friend, soul singer Tyler James, sent a demo of Amy performing to an A&R person in the music industry, and she was soon signed to Simon Fuller’s 19 Management. 

It was 2002 at this point, and by October 2003, Amy Winehouse had released her debut LP, ‘Frank’. Apart from two songs on the album, every track was also written by Amy. 

It quickly received platinum sales and was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. One song on the album, ‘Stronger Than Me’, won her an Ivor Novello Award for best contemporary song. 

Three years after the release of ‘Frank’, came her second album ‘Back To Black’. 

Her first album had been heavily inspired by her jazz heroes, but this second album gave a nod to the ‘50s and ‘60s doo-wop and girl groups. 

It became one of the best-selling albums in UK history, producing hits such as ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’, ‘You Know I’m No Good’, and ‘Rehab’, a song which won her a second Ivor Novello Award, along with numerous awards for the album itself. 

LEGEND: Amy leaves behind an amazing legacy.

Tragedy

Amy continued to work, recording and performing, but by this point she had become heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol, something which was well publicised in the British media. 

At 10am on July 23, 2011, her bodyguard went to her home to check on her. 

He found her lying on her bed, he thought she was asleep after a heavy night’s drinking. 

At 3pm, he went back, to find her lying in the same position. At this point he realised she wasn’t breathing. 

The emergency services were called and at 3.54pm that same day, one of the greatest ever female singers, Amy Winehouse, was pronounced dead at the age of just 27. 

Shortly after her death was announced to the public, the ‘Back To Black’ album became the best selling album of the 21st century. 

The legacy and influence Amy Winehouse leaves behind as one of the all-time greats will last forever. 

In 2014 a bronze statue of her was unveiled in Camden Town. 

I saw Amy live in 2007, something which I’m so glad happened. It’s unbelievable that it’s been ten years since we lost her, it’s one of those moments which all music fans can remember where they were when they heard the news, but the work she left us with will be forever played, and Amy herself will never ever be forgotten. 

You can listen to Dave on Tameside Radio 103.6FM on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Click here to subscribe and catch up on previous shows.

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