This talented British singer is constantly in focus of media and public not just because her singing qualities. Apart from her singing, she is turning heads because of her eccentric and rowdy behavior, as well as because of her heavy consumption of alcohol and drugs. But it seems that fans and partly critics like her rugged charm, brash sense of humor, and especially soulful and jazzy vocals. Her distinctive style, most notably her former signature beehive hairstyle, has spawned imitators and been the muse for fashion designers, most notably Karl Lagerfeld.

Amy´s (and her husband’s) struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as self-destructive behaviour, have become regular news today. It didn´t past quite a long time from her five Grammy awards and positive rehab results in London to another problem related to her husband(he overdosed and almost died in prison). But how her life and Amy herself looked like before she became a popular singer?

Sylvia Young Theatre School

The BRIT School

AMY WINEHOUSE IN SHORT TRIVIA:

• Amy Winehouse is an English songwriter and jazz and soul singer.
• her mother, Janis, is a pharmacist
• her father, Mitchell Winehouse, is a taxi driver
• born in the Southgate area of Enfield, London, England
• growing up in Southgate, she attended Ashmole School
• at around age ten, she founded a rap group named Sweet ‘n’ Sour (she was “Sour”)
• Amy has one brother, named Alex
• her eye color is hazel

  

• Amy´s height is 5 feet 2 inches
• Amy trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School when she was twelve years old, but was expelled at age fourteen for “not applying herself” and piercing her nose.
• she attended the BRIT School in Selhurst, Croydon with singer Katie Melua
• received her first guitar at the age of 13.
• she is a good friend of Kelly Osbourne
• with her first cheque earned with singing, she moved out with childhood friend Juliette Ashby
• Amy’s debut album, Frank was released on October 20, 2003.
• she pierced her nose when she was 13.
• her second album “Back to Black” reached #1 in the UK Albums Charts (2006).
• won a Brit Award for “Best British Female” in 2007.
• her “Back To Black” album was inspired by her relationship with Blake Civil-Fielder prior to their marriage
• has constant problems with bulimia as well as alcohol problems
• married Blake Fielder-Civil in an unannounced ceremony in Miami, Florida.
• her husband threatened to divorce her if she did not check into rehab
• has been cleared of bribery charges against her involving her jailed husband Blake Fielder-Civil
• banned from normal visits to her jailed husband after he failed a drug test.
• admitted to have previously been affected by eating disorders. A little bit of anorexia, a little bit of bulimia. I’m not totally OK now but I don’t think any woman is.
• was hospitalized for severe exhaustion, causing her to miss a festival appearance in Norway.
• will appeal a $714 fine on marijuana possession charges in Norway because she didn’t understand that accepting a fine is the same as pleading guilty in the Scandinavian country.
• her husband has urged her to take more care of herself after becoming concerned over her skinny figure.
• she is friend with singer Remi Nicole.

  

• ranked #2 in Richard Selzer (aka Mr. Blackwell) ’s 48th annual Worst Dressed Woman list
• was questioned by police in connection with a video which allegedly shows her smoking crack cocaine.
• was hospitalized to receive treatment for dehydration during her efforts to beat her drug addiction.
• she is a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe – She’s been viewing the legendary ’50s actress’ films on repeat to help her through rehab.
• Mary J Blige is hoping Winehouse will get over her drug addiction because she feels the future of music depends on her.
• is considered as a style icon by Victoria Beckham and fashion guru Karl Lagerfeld. Beckham says she’s original and unique, and Lagerfeld calls her his new muse and the next Brigitte Bardot.
• was caught by paparazzi wandering outside her London home early in the morning barefoot and wearing jeans, a red bra and a pained expression.
• was forced to have her trademark beehive hairstyle searched for drugs on a visit to her imprisoned husband Blake Fielder-Civil
• Amy plans to travel to Jamaica to work with Damian Marley son of reggae legend Bob Marley
• while performing at a concert in Birmingham England in November 2007, Amy was booed by the audience, with others walking out in protest to her drunken state
• artists who have influenced her style include Nas, Mos Def, Teena Marie, Beastie Boys, Carole King, Mahalia Jackson, The Ronettes, The Shangri-las The Shirelles, Sarah Vaughan, Minnie Ripperton, Dinah Washington, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, The Specials, Toots and the Maytals and Thelonious Monk.

  

• she has a number of old school tattoos of naked women on her body. When asked about them, she was quoted as saying “I like pin-up girls. I’m more of a boy than a girl. I’m not a lesbian, though — not before a sambuca anyway.” Her most recent tattoo is the word skank across her neck in response to criticisms in the press that she does not wash as often as normal people.
• before 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards, Amy trashed her hotel room in Berlin by throwing furniture and spaghetti at the walls. It was reported that damages cost thousands of dollars worth.
• in October 2007 it was revealed that Prince had asked Amy to perform a duet with him for his next album
• in her song Rehab, she mentions the names Ray and Mr. Hathaway. These are references to the soul singers Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway.
• Amy announced she had been approached by one of the producers of the James Bond movies to sing the main theme of Bond 22.
• she missed a crucial rehearsal for 2008 BRIT Awards after discovering her imprisoned husband was trading signed pictures of her for hits of the drug
• her song “Rehab” is based on her past refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre after it was encouraged by her management company.
• her favorite artists include Nas, Mos Def, Teena Marie, Beastie Boys, Carol King, Mahalia Jackson and Thelonious Monk.
• Amy’s favourite cocktail is Rickstasy. That is actually three parts vodka, one part Southern Comfort, one part banana liqueur, and one part Baileys.

  

• earned six 2008 Grammy Awards nominations including “Album of the Year” and “Record of the Year” for “Rehab”
• Although she was finally granted an entry visa in the United States to perform at the 2008 Grammy Awards, she remained in London and sang two songs via satellite. During the show, she was awarded five Grammys for “Best Pop Vocal Album”, “Record of the Year”, “Song of the Year”, “Best Female Pope Performance” (for “Rehab”) and “Best New Artist”
• Amy used her trademark black eyeliner to draw a make-shift bra onto the tattoo of a topless woman on her right arm as she performed via satellite link from London at the Grammys.

Winehouse and her acclaimed album Back to Black were nominated in six categories for the 50th anniversary Grammy Awards in Los Angeles last Sunday.
It turned out that from six nominations she won five awards, including Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for her now-prophetic “Rehab”.Winehouse has become as famous for her chaotic personal life as for her music. Since the album’s U.S. release last year, she has canceled a number of appearances and performances because of permanent drug problems. Her self destructive way of life caused appearance of sites likethese.

Winehouse is currently in a London rehab facility, where her treatment center stated: “Amy has been progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago and although disappointed with the decision, has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery.”This ruling comes days after an incriminating video clip appeared on Internet.

In the clip, Winehouse walks around her home wearing a dark tank top. She speaks to someone on her cell phone, as well as the person shooting the video. At one point, Winehouse proclaims, “I just took about six Valium.” The video then shifts to the singer’s bedroom, where she lights a glass pipe and inhales; the tabloids claim the pipe was a crack pipe.