The Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco did it again by sending me an update of their exhibits. They inspired me to write about another musician, Amy Winehouse (last month it was Bruce Springsteen).
The exhibit “Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait” runs from July 23 through November 1, 2015.
Tragically, Amy Winehouse died on July 23, 2011 at the age of 28 of alcohol poisoning. She was an incredible talent, highly influenced by the girl groups of the 60’s and jazz greats. She had a very unique sound and wrote amazing songs. She wrapped it all up in her style and made history in the 21st century!
Here is a bit of trivia about Amy Winehouse
Winehouse was born in the Southgate area of north London to a Jewish family, who were influential toward her interest in jazz. Among her other influences, Jazz giants Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus, Miles Davis and hip-hop greats Mos Def and Busta Rhymes.
Singer Tony Bennett recorded a song with Winehouse for his forthcoming album, Duets II.
Body and Soul
Other Jazz Covers sung by Winehouse.
Someone To Watch Over Me
Don’t Go To Strangers, Amy Winehouse & Paul Weller.
She also loved Carole King. Winehouse’s favorite song was “So Far Away”.
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
In a 2007 interview with Rolling Stone, Winehouse revealed her childhood dream, to be a waitress on roller-skates like the ones she’d seen in American Graffiti.
Amy Winehouse was only 5’ 2”.
Her famous beehive was as high as 6 inches.
From Wikipedia
“Back to Black” is the second and final studio album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse, released it on 27 October 2006. The album spawned five singles, “Rehab”, You Know I’m No Good, Back to Black, Tears Dry on Their Own, Love Is a Losing Game.
At the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, Back to Black won Best Pop Vocal Album and was also nominated for Album of the Year. At the same ceremony, Winehouse won four additional awards meaning that she ties with five other artists as the second-most awarded female in a single ceremony. The album was also nominated at the 2007 Brit Awards for MasterCard British Album and was shortlisted for the 2007 Mercury Prize. Back to Black sold 3.58 million copies in the UK alone, becoming the UK’s second best-selling album of the 21st century. Worldwide, the album has sold over 20 million copies.
Amy Winehouse’s song “Rehab” is based on her past refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre after it was encouraged by her management company. In her song “Rehab”, she mentions the names Ray and Mr. Hathaway. These are references to the soul singers Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway.
Lady Gaga was a fan of Winehouse and said, “I always felt like Amy had opened a door for girls like me, who didn’t fit that exact real pop mold.”
Despite the scores of fans who mimicked Winehouse’s swaths of black eyeliner and her 2010 collaboration with the Fred Perry label, the singer minimized her influence on fashion. Harper’s Bazaar asked if she thought of herself as a style icon in a 2010 interview. Winehouse shot back, “No, of course not!” and added, “I don’t think that’s true. I just dress like … I’m an old Jewish black man. I just dress like it’s still the ‘50s.”