Amy Winehouse, the often brilliant but troubled singer, was found dead today (Saturday) at her London apartment. She was 27. The cause of death has not been announced.
Winehouse shot to fame with her retro soul album Back To Black, winning the Grammy Award for Best Album and hitting the top of the charts. But trouble was always close to Winehouse, who suffered from drug and alcohol addiction for most of her career.
Winehouse began her career strongly with the album Frank, which won her fans for her gutsy, gravely vocals and her no-holds-barred approach to rock and soul. But it was Back In Black, and its hit “Rehab,” that made Winehouse an international star. Erratic behavior and tabloid stardom quickly followed Winehouse’s ascent, and she began a downward spiral from which she never truly recovered.
Winehouse’s death recalls the deaths of many of the great performers, from Hendrix to Morrison, who died at or near the peak of their careers, often due to demons that overtook them and led them to harmful addictions. This is a very sad death, and the coda to a career that was far too short. She will be missed.
By Chris Rizik
Read our 2007 review of Back to Black
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