Career Timeline of Amy Winehouse: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Amy Winehouse, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Amy Winehouse (1983-2011) was a highly acclaimed English singer and songwriter celebrated for her distinctive contralto voice and genre-bending music, which fused soul, R&B, reggae, and jazz. Selling over 30 million records globally, she achieved significant commercial success and critical recognition, winning multiple Grammy Awards. Despite her talent, Winehouse struggled with substance abuse, which significantly impacted her career and ultimately led to her premature death at the age of 27. Her raw honesty and unique style continue to influence contemporary music and solidify her legacy as a singular talent.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

July 2000: Featured Vocalist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra

In July 2000, Amy Winehouse became the featured female vocalist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

2002: Signing with 19 Management

In 2002, Amy Winehouse signed with Simon Fuller's 19 Management and was paid £250 a week against future earnings.

October 2003: Release of 'Frank'

In October 2003, Amy Winehouse's debut album, 'Frank', produced mainly by Salaam Remi, was released to wide critical acclaim.

2003: Release of Debut Album 'Frank'

In 2003, Amy Winehouse's debut album, 'Frank,' was released. The album was influenced by jazz and co-written by Winehouse and became a critical and commercial success.

May 2006: Demo Tracks on Mark Ronson's Radio Show

In May 2006, Amy Winehouse's demo tracks, including "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab," appeared on Mark Ronson's New York City radio show on East Village Radio.

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October 2006: Website Relaunch and Album Promotion

In October 2006, promotion for "Back to Black" began, and Amy Winehouse's official website was relaunched with new content.

2006: Release of 'Back to Black'

In 2006, Amy Winehouse released her follow-up album, 'Back to Black,' which became an international success and one of the best-selling albums of all time.

2006: Winehouse inclusion in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die"

In 2006, Amy Winehouse's debut album Frank earned her an Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters for Best Contemporary Song ("Stronger Than Me"), a Brit Award nomination for Best British Female Solo Artist, and an inclusion in Robert Dimery's 2006 book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

2006: "Rehab" Wins Novello Award

In 2006, Amy Winehouse's song "Rehab" won the Novello Award for best contemporary song, marking an early recognition of her songwriting talent.

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2006: Rebound and Writing of Back to Black

People who saw Amy Winehouse during the end of 2005 and early 2006 reported a rebound that coincided with the writing of Back to Black.

January 2007: Release of 'You Know I'm No Good' and Chart Success

In January 2007, "You Know I'm No Good" was released as the second single from 'Back to Black,' reaching number 18 on the UK singles chart.

April 2007: Release of 'Back to Black' as a Single

In April 2007, the title track "Back to Black" was released as a single in the UK.

November 2007: Troubled Tour and Cancellation of Appearances

In November 2007, Amy Winehouse's tour was marred by poor performances, including booing and walkouts at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. On 27 November 2007, Winehouse announced the cancellation of her remaining performances and public appearances for the year, citing doctor's advice to rest due to the emotional strain of touring.

November 2007: Deluxe Edition of 'Back to Black' and DVD Release

In November 2007, a deluxe edition of 'Back to Black' and the DVD 'I Told You I Was Trouble: Live in London' were released. 'Frank' was also released in the US.

December 2007: Release of 'B Boy Baby'

On December 17, 2007, Amy Winehouse's collaboration with Mutya Buena, "B Boy Baby", was released.

January 2008: Increased Record Sales Due to Media Coverage

In January 2008, Amy Winehouse's record label stated that the extensive media coverage she had received increased record sales.

January 2008: Back to Black Tops Billboard Charts

On 13 January 2008, Amy Winehouse's album, Back to Black, held the number-one position on the Billboard Pan European charts for the third consecutive week, marking a significant achievement in her career.

February 2008: Billboard Success and Brit Awards Performance

In February 2008, after the Grammys, Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" album rose to number two on the US Billboard 200. On 20 February 2008, she performed "Valerie" with Mark Ronson and "Love Is a Losing Game" at the 2008 Brit Awards.

February 2008: Winehouse Wins Five Grammy Awards

On 10 February 2008, Amy Winehouse received five Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Rehab", Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best New Artist. She referenced the 2008 Camden Market fire in her acceptance speech. Due to visa issues, she performed via satellite from London.

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March 2008: "Back to Black" Topped UK Album Charts

On 2 March 2008, a special deluxe edition of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" topped the UK album charts. The original edition of "Back to Black" was ranked at number 30 in its 68th week on the charts, while "Frank" charted at number 35.

April 2008: Album Sales Milestone and Documentary Review Release

By 12 March (reported in April 2008), Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" had sold a total of 2,467,575 copies in the UK, placing it among the top-10 best-selling albums of the 21st century. On 14 April 2008, the documentary "Amy Winehouse – The Girl Done Good: A Documentary Review" was released.

April 2008: Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

In April 2008, Amy Winehouse appeared in a revealing photograph for the April 2008 issue of "Easy Living" magazine as part of a breast cancer awareness campaign, showing her support for the cause.

May 2008: Performance at Rock in Rio Lisboa

In May 2008, Amy Winehouse performed at the Rock in Rio Lisboa festival in Portugal. Despite arriving late and facing vocal issues, the crowd warmed to her performance, which included her own material and covers.

June 2008: Performances at Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday and Glastonbury Festival

On 27 June 2008, Amy Winehouse performed at Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Party concert in London's Hyde Park. The next day, on 28 June 2008, she performed at the Glastonbury Festival.

December 2008: Inclusion in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC

In December 2008, a clip of Amy Winehouse's music was included in the "Roots and Influences" area of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC, highlighting her connections to artists like Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and Mary J. Blige.

2008: Ivor Novello Awards Nominations and Win

At the 2008 Ivor Novello Awards, Amy Winehouse received two nominations for Best Song Musically & Lyrically, winning for "Love Is a Losing Game" and being nominated for "You Know I'm No Good". She was also nominated for a 2008 MTV Europe Music Award in the Act of the Year category.

2008: "Back to Black" Among Best-Selling Albums Worldwide

In 2008, Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" was the world's seventh-biggest-selling album. Its sales helped Universal Music Group's recorded music division maintain strong market performance.

2008: Pressure for New Material and Learning Drums

In 2008, Universal Music reportedly pressed Amy Winehouse for new material, but as of September of that year, she hadn't been near a recording studio. In late October, her spokesman said she had not been given a deadline for her third album and was learning to play drums.

January 2009: Launch of Lioness Records

In January 2009, Amy Winehouse announced the launch of her own record label, Lioness Records, with her 13-year-old goddaughter Dionne Bromfield as the first act.

March 2009: Contribution to British Music Experience Museum

In March 2009, Amy Winehouse loaned a vintage dress and a DVD from her "Tears Dry on Their Own" video to the British Music Experience, a new museum dedicated to British pop music history.

March 2009: Winehouse arrested for assault on dancer

In March 2009, Amy Winehouse was arrested and charged with common assault following Sherene Flash's claim that Winehouse hit her in the eye at the September 2008 Prince's Trust charity ball. As a result, Winehouse's US Coachella Festival appearance was cancelled. She pleaded not guilty in court on March 17.

May 2009: Performance at Saint Lucia Jazz Festival

In May 2009, Amy Winehouse returned to performing at a jazz festival in Saint Lucia amid challenging weather and technical difficulties. Her performance was unsteady, and she had trouble remembering lyrics, but she also worked on new music with Salaam Remi during her stay.

July 2009: Payment for Urgent Surgery in Saint Lucia

In July 2009, during her stay in Saint Lucia, Amy Winehouse paid £4,000 for Julian Jean DeBaptiste's urgent surgery, demonstrating her generosity and compassion.

October 2009: Release of Dionne Bromfield's Album and Backing Vocals

On 12 October 2009, Dionne Bromfield's first album, featuring covers of classic soul records, was released on Amy Winehouse's Lioness Records. Amy Winehouse provided backing vocals on several tracks and performed on the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" on 10 October.

2009: Documentary and Joint Venture with EMI

In 2009, Amy Winehouse and her family were the subject of a documentary titled Saving Amy, shot by Daphne Barak. Also in 2009, Winehouse entered into a joint venture with EMI to launch a range of wrapping paper and gift cards featuring lyrics from her album Back to Black.

2009: Contribution to Climate Change Awareness CD

In 2009, Amy Winehouse appeared on a CD called "Classics" alongside other musicians to raise awareness of climate change, demonstrating her commitment to environmental causes.

2009: Poll Recognition and Collaboration with Rhythms del Mundo

In 2009, a poll indicated that one-fifth of U.S. residents had listened to Amy Winehouse's music during the previous year. She also collaborated with Rhythms del Mundo on a cover of "Cupid" for a benefit album released in July 2009.

July 2010: Album Release Announcement

In July 2010, Amy Winehouse announced that her next album would be released no later than January 2011 and would be similar in style to her second album. However, Mark Ronson stated that he had not yet started recording the album.

October 2010: Fashion Collection Release with Fred Perry

In October 2010, Amy Winehouse's 17-piece fashion collection with Fred Perry was released for sale. Winehouse was actively involved in the design process, contributing to product style selection, fabric application, colour, and styling details.

November 2010: Collaboration on Quincy Jones Tribute Album

In November 2010, Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson contributed a cover of Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" to the Quincy Jones tribute album "Q Soul Bossa Nostra".

December 2010: Private Concert in Moscow

In December 2010, Amy Winehouse played a 40-minute concert at a Russian oligarch's party in Moscow, where the tycoon hand-selected the songs.

2010: Ronson's Interview on Working with Winehouse

In a 2010 interview, Mark Ronson discussed his working relationship with Amy Winehouse, noting her bluntness when she disliked his work.

January 2011: Performances in Brazil

In January 2011, Amy Winehouse played five dates in Brazil, opening for Janelle Monáe and Mayer Hawthorne. During the Florianópolis performance, she struggled with lyrics and had to leave the stage twice, but the crowd showed compassion and praised her for continuing the show.

January 2011: Expected Album Release

In July 2010 Amy Winehouse claimed that her next album was expected for release no later than January 2011.

March 2011: Donation to Charity Shop

In March 2011, Amy Winehouse donated over £20,000 worth of clothes to a local charity shop in London, contributing to her community.

March 2011: Winehouse influence on British female artists in the US

In March 2011, the New York Daily News published an article attributing the wave of successful British female artists in the United States to Amy Winehouse and her absence. Charles Aaron from Spin magazine stated, "Amy Winehouse was the Nirvana moment for all these women," linking their attitude, musical styles, and fashion to her influence. Keith Caulfield from Billboard noted that Winehouse's impact allowed singers like Adele, Estelle, and Duffy to succeed, paving the way for new artists like Eliza Doolittle, Rumer, and Ellie.

June 2011: Troubled European Tour and Cancellation

On 18 June 2011, Amy Winehouse began her European tour in Belgrade, but her performance was widely criticized as a "scandal and disaster" due to her apparent intoxication. She was booed off stage, and Serbian defense minister Dragan Šutanovac called her performance "a huge shame and a disappointment". On 21 June, all shows of her tour were cancelled.

July 2011: Last Public Appearance

On 20 July 2011, Amy Winehouse made her last public appearance at Camden's Roundhouse, supporting her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield on stage. Three days later, she passed away.

September 2011: Launch of the Amy Winehouse Foundation

In September 2011, on what would have been Amy Winehouse's 28th birthday, Winehouse's family launched the Amy Winehouse Foundation to help vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.

2012: Posthumous Release of Winehouse's Fred Perry Collections

Following Amy Winehouse's death, Fred Perry released three forthcoming collections, up to and including autumn/winter 2012, that she had designed prior to her passing. Additionally, Fred Perry began donating 20% of the net revenue from the Amy Winehouse collection to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

2012: Publication of "Amy: My Daughter" by Mitch Winehouse

In 2012, Mitch Winehouse published his biography of Amy, titled "Amy: My Daughter," with proceeds donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

March 2013: Launch of the Amy Winehouse Foundation Resilience Programme For Schools

On March 12, 2013, the Amy Winehouse Foundation, with the assistance of Russell Brand, launched the Amy Winehouse Foundation Resilience Programme For Schools across the UK. The program aims to provide education around drugs, alcohol, and dealing with emotional issues.

2014: Publication of "Loving Amy: A Mother's Story" by Janis Winehouse

In 2014, Janis Winehouse published "Loving Amy: A Mother's Story," with proceeds donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

October 2015: Mark Ronson Becomes a Patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation

In October 2015, Mark Ronson became a patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

March 2017: Bob Dylan praises Winehouse's last record

In March 2017, Bob Dylan praised Amy Winehouse's last record, Back to Black, calling her "the last real individualist around", highlighting her unique artistry and lasting influence.