By the end of 2003, when she was 20 yearsold, That opportunity ledto her recording contract with Island Records. At the age of 16, after she had been expelled from London's Sylvia Young Theatre School,she caught her firstīreakwhenpop singer Tyler James, a schoolmate and close friend, passed on her demo tape to his A&R, who was searchingforĪjazz vocalist. However,in her teens, she was drawn to the rebellious spirit of TLC, Salt-N-Pepa,and other American R&Band hip-hop acts of Listenedto and absorbed her parents' selection of greats: DinahWashington, EllaFitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra among others. Herpaternal grandmother was romanticallyinvolved withBritish jazz legend Ronnie Scott at one time. Many of the uncles on her mother's side were professional jazz musicians, and even Nonetheless, her allure had always been her songwriting -Īlmostalwaysdeeply personal butbest known for its profanity and brutal candor.īorn to a taxi-driving father and a pharmacist mother, Winehouse grew up in the Southgate area of northern London. Ofthosesingers' vocal repertoire in Winehouse's own voice. Interestingly enough, despite her strong accent and vernacular, one can often hearaspects of each Sellingbreakthrough album, Frank (2003), elicited comparisons ranging from BillieHoliday andSarah Vaughan to Macy GrayĪndLauryn Hill. The British pressĪndtabloids seemed tofocuson her rowdy behavior, heavy consumption of alcohol, and tragic end, but fans and criticsĪlikeembraced her rugged charm, brash sense ofhumor, anddistinctively soulful and jazzy vocals. Much can be said about the late Amy Winehouse, one of the U.K.'s flagship vocalists during the 2000s.

Amy winehouse cds list