Amy Winehouse (1983-2011) was a British singer-songwriter from north London whose contralto voice and gift for confessional lyrics set her apart from almost every pop contemporary. Her second album, Back to Black (2006), fused 1960s soul and girl-group pop with raw autobiographical writing, won five Grammy Awards at a single ceremony - making her the first British woman to achieve that - and became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. She died from alcohol poisoning in July 2011 at 27, and her influence on a generation of British soul singers, from Adele to Sam Smith, remains widely acknowledged.
Back to Black was certified 15× Platinum by the BPI on 28 March 2025, representing 4.5 million UK shipments and making it the UK's second best-selling album of the 21st century.
The U.S. Library of Congress added Back to Black to its National Recording Registry in April 2025, designating it culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.
The Guardian included Back to Black on its 2025 list of defining events in popular culture of the 21st century.
The biopic Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and starring Marisa Abela as Winehouse, was released in cinemas in 2024.
Rolling Stone ranked Winehouse at number 83 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2023.
A concert celebrating Amy Winehouse. The tribute band Amy Winehouse Undercover performs the legendary singer's classic songs and distinctive style.
A concert celebrating Amy Winehouse, the jazz and soul legend, at Harmonie Bonn.