Amy Jade Winehouse (born 14 September 1983) is an English singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including R&B, soul, jazz, rock & roll, and ska. Winehouse is best known for her soulful, powerful contralto vocals."Amy Winehouse." The Observer. 2007.

Winehouse's 2003 debut album Frank was commercially and critically successful in her native Britain. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize. Her 2006 follow-up album Back to Black led to six Grammy Award nominations and five wins, tying the record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night, and made Winehouse the first British singer to win five Grammys,Winehouse, Alex. Amy Winehouse's brother on her return to form. Timesonline. 13 February 2008. including three of the "Big Four": Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. On 14 February 2007, she won a BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist; she had also been nominated for Best British Album. She has won the Ivor Novello Award three times, one in 2004 for Best Contemporary Song (musically and lyrically) for "Stronger Than Me", one in 2007 for Best Contemporary Song for "Rehab", and one in 2008 for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for "Love Is a Losing Game", among other prestigious distinctions.

Winehouse has received media attention apart from her singing. Her distinctive style has been the muse for fashion designers such as Karl Lagerfeld. The singer's problems with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as self-destructive behaviour, have become regular tabloid news since 2007. She and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, have been plagued by legal troubles that left him serving prison time and a subsequent pending divorce. In 2008, Winehouse faced a series of health complications that threatened both her life and her career.

Early life

Amy Winehouse was born in the Southgate area of Enfield, London to a Jewish family who shared her love of jazz music.Mulholland, Garry. "Charmed and Dangerous." The Observer. 1 February 2004. Retrieved on 28 October 2006. She was raised in a family of four: her father Mitchell (a taxi driver), her mother Janis (a pharmacist), and her older brother Alex.Eliscu, Jenny. (2007-06-14), "The Diva and Her Demons." Rolling Stone. (1028):58–69. Retrieved 2007-12-14. Mitchell would constantly sing around the house, often singing Frank Sinatra 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.Sanderson, Elizabeth. "Amy Winehouse's mother explains why she feels powerless to stop her troubled daughter's descent into hell of addiction." Mail Online. 18 August 2007. Retrieved on 1 July 2008.