Amy Winehouse: Tributes paid to dead singer
Winehouse was born in the Southgate area of North London to a Jewish family, with Russian ancestry on her mother's side,who influenced her interest in jazz. Winehouse was the daughter of Mitchell "Mitch" Winehouse, a taxi driver, and Janis Winehouse, a pharmacist. Her grandmother had once been engaged to Ronnie Scott. Her brother, Alex, is four years older. Mitch often sang Frank Sinatra songs to young Amy, who also took to a constant habit of singing to the point that teachers found it difficult keeping her quiet in class. Winehouse's parents separated when she was nine.
When Winehouse was nine years old, her grandmother, Cynthia, suggested she attend the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School for further training.At age ten, Winehouse founded a short-lived rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with childhood friend Juliette Ashby.
She stayed at the Earnshaw school for four years before seeking full-time training at Sylvia Young Theatre School, but was allegedly expelled at 14 for "not applying herself" and for piercing her nose.(Sylvia Young herself has denied this – "She changed schools at 15 – I've heard it said she was expelled; she wasn't. I'd never have expelled Amy.") With other children from the Sylvia Young School, she appeared in an episode of The Fast Show in 1997.
What everyone thought, and hoped, was another rumour spreading through Twitter like wildfire has just been confirmed as being true.
Amy Winehouse has died at the age of just 27. Police found her body at her home in North London this afternoon. A suspected drink and drugs overdose.
Amazingly talented. Such a loss.
This news is already being met with cynics complaining that someone who was “asking for it” should have a place in the headlines amongst the tragedy in Norway, Somalia and Stockport. People will take what they think is a moral highground and look down on those expressing their disbelief at Amy’s death. I find that immoral and unnecessary.
So she was troubled, she drank to excess and took drugs and smoked and stumbled through life, but her talent is undeniable and sadly, strengthed by her struggles with addiction. This doesn’t make her less of a person or less deserving of the tributes she will recieve.
