Died On This Date (July 23, 2011) Amy Winehouse / English Pop Singer
themusicsover Amy Winehouse
September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011
Member of the 27 Club
Amy Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter who burst on to the scene in 2006 and quickly built a legion of fans for her soulful and sultry songs that offered a mix of R&B, Jazz, Rock, Pop, and Soul. During a relatively short and troubled life in front of the masses, Winehouse opened the door for such white neo-soul divas as Duffy and Adele. Born in north London, Winehouse quickly took a shine to music and soon found herself being scolded by her teachers for constantly breaking out into a song during classes. By 13, she had her first guitar, and within a year she was writing her own songs. Shortly after that she was signed by Simon Fuller’s 19 Management. Fuller of course, is of American Idol fame. In October of 2003, Winehouse released her debut album, Frank, likely in a nod to one of her idols, Frank Sinatra. The album was critically acclaimed and did well across the U.K., but it wasn’t until the release of 2006’s Back To Black and its instantly iconic first single, “Rehab,” that Winehouse’s popularity skyrocketed around the globe. The album entered the U.S. charts at #7, and was the biggest selling album of the year in the U.K. Back To Black and Winehouse won several Grammys that year, including Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist. The album also sat in the Top 10 of most credible year-end best-of lists of 2006. But the spotlight was harsh on Winehouse who was dealing with her own internal demons. She admitted to struggling with eating disorders, depression and self harm, while abuse of illegal drugs contributing to a life that seemed to be quickly spiraling out of control. There were also a handful of legal issues – drug related and otherwise, along with health problems that were keeping Winehouse’s often sadly frightening images in the media, no thanks to paparazzi who were documenting her fall from greatness. On July 23, 2011, Amy Winehouse was found to be not breathing in her bed by her security guard who immediately called paramedics who were not able to revive her. Cause of death was attributed to alcohol poisoning. Like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and so many great 27 Clubbers before her, Winehouse was 27 when she passed away.
What You Should Own
Bill Morrissey was a respected folk singer-songwriter who, since the release of his 1984 self-titled debut, built a sizable following thanks to his thought-provoking narratives that typically dealt with the ups and downs of life in small town America. Morrissey released ten albums throughout his career, with two earning him Grammy nominations. Bill Morrissey was 59 when he died of heart disease on July 23, 2011.
Fran Landesman was an American poet and lyricist who achieved international acclaim for penning the words to such songs as “The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men” and “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most.” Born in New York City, Landesman eventually settled with her husband in St. Louis, Missouri where they owned and operated the Crystal Palace, a world-renowned night club that hosted the likes of Barbra Streisand, Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen. It was while sitting at the bar listening to the singers that Landesman was inspired to take a stab at writing song lyrics herself. The year was 1952, and it was then and there that she began collaborating with the club’s house pianist on a string of songs, some of which became hits as recorded by others. That list of singers includes R0berta Flack, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler,