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 was a highly acclaimed English singer and songwriter, celebrated for her distinctive contralto voice and her fusion of soul, R&B, reggae, and jazz. She achieved global success, selling over 30 million records. Despite her talent and fame, Winehouse struggled with substance abuse, which overshadowed her career and ultimately contributed to her untimely death at the age of 27. Her raw and honest lyrics, combined with her unique vocal style, left an indelible mark on the music industry, solidifying her status as a significant figure in contemporary music.
July 2000: Featured Vocalist with National Youth Jazz Orchestra
In July 2000, Winehouse became the featured female vocalist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, marking an early milestone in her singing career.
2002: Signing with 19 Management
In 2002, Amy Winehouse signed with Simon Fuller's 19 Management, receiving an initial payment, and beginning her journey into the professional music industry.
October 2003: Release of Debut Album "Frank"
On 20 October 2003, Amy Winehouse's debut album, "Frank", was released, receiving critical acclaim for its jazz influences and lyrical content.
2003: Release of Debut Album "Frank"
In 2003, Amy Winehouse released her debut album, "Frank", which was influenced by jazz and critically acclaimed, establishing her presence in the music scene.
May 2006: Demo Tracks on Mark Ronson's Radio Show
In May 2006, demo tracks like "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab" from Amy Winehouse's upcoming album were featured on Mark Ronson's radio show, showcasing her new material.
October 2006: Website Relaunch and Album Promotion
In October 2006, Amy Winehouse's official website was relaunched with a new layout and clips of previously unreleased songs, signaling the promotion of "Back to Black."
2006: Ivor Novello Award
In 2006, Amy Winehouse earned 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: Release of "Back to Black"
In 2006, Winehouse released "Back to Black," an album that achieved international success and became one of the best-selling albums in UK history.
2006: Rebound and Writing of Back to Black
In early 2006, Amy Winehouse experienced a rebound that coincided with writing her album Back to Black, after a difficult period in 2005.
January 2007: Release of "You Know I'm No Good"
In January 2007, Amy Winehouse released "You Know I'm No Good" as the second single from "Back to Black," featuring a remix with rap vocals by Ghostface Killah.
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, achieving success across mainland Europe.
August 2007: Hospitalization and Cancelled Shows
In August 2007, Amy Winehouse cancelled shows in the UK and Europe, citing exhaustion and ill health. She was hospitalized for a reported overdose of heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, and alcohol.
November 2007: Release of Deluxe Edition of "Back to Black"
In November 2007, the deluxe edition of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" was released in the UK, featuring bonus tracks and live recordings.
December 2007: Release of "B Boy Baby" Collaboration
On 17 December 2007, Amy Winehouse's collaboration with Mutya Buena, "B Boy Baby," was released, serving as the fourth single from Buena's debut album.
January 2008: Increased Record Sales Due to Media Coverage
In January 2008, Amy Winehouse's record label observed that the extensive media coverage, despite often being negative, was contributing to increased record sales.
February 2008: Winehouse wins five Grammy Awards
On 10 February 2008, Amy Winehouse won five Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Due to visa issues, she performed via satellite from London. She referenced the Camden Market fire in her acceptance speech.
February 2008: Brit Awards Performance
On 20 February 2008, Amy Winehouse performed at the Brit Awards in London, singing "Valerie" with Mark Ronson and "Love Is a Losing Game". She also showed support for Blake Fielder-Civil.
March 2008: Back to Black tops UK album charts
On 2 March 2008, the special deluxe edition of "Back to Black" reached the top of the UK album charts.
April 2008: Breast cancer awareness campaign
As part of a breast cancer awareness campaign, Amy Winehouse appeared in a photograph for the April 2008 issue of Easy Living magazine.
June 2008: Hyde Park and Glastonbury Performances
In June 2008, Amy Winehouse performed at Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Party concert in London's Hyde Park on June 27 and at the Glastonbury Festival on June 28.
2008: Drug Problems Threaten Career
By 2008, Amy Winehouse's drug problems were significantly impacting her career, leading Island Records to consider releasing her to address these issues. Despite her struggles, her image was prominently featured in TV coverage of the Grammys, highlighting her continued cultural relevance.
2008: "Back to Black" success
In 2008, "Back to Black" was the world's seventh-biggest-selling album, contributing significantly to Universal Music Group's market performance. The album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
2008: Winehouse Wins Grammy Awards
In 2008, Amy Winehouse received Grammy awards for her music.
2008: Pressured for new material
In 2008, Universal Music reportedly pressed Amy Winehouse for new material, but she had not been in a recording studio as of September. In late October, her spokesman mentioned she was learning to play drums for her third album, without a set deadline.
2008: Ivor Novello Awards
In May 2008, Amy Winehouse received two nominations for Best Song Musically & Lyrically at the Ivor Novello Awards, winning for "Love Is a Losing Game". She was also nominated for a 2008 MTV Europe Music Award.
January 2009: Lioness Records launch
In January 2009, Amy Winehouse announced the launch of her own record label, Lioness Records, with her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield as the first act.
March 2009: British Music Experience donation
In March 2009, Amy Winehouse loaned a vintage dress and DVD to the British Music Experience, a museum dedicated to British pop music.
July 2009: Pays for urgent surgery
In July 2009, Amy Winehouse paid for Julian Jean DeBaptiste's urgent surgery costing £4,000 during her stay in Saint Lucia.
October 2009: Bromfield album released
In October 2009, Dionne Bromfield's first album, featuring covers of classic soul records and Amy Winehouse as a backing singer, was released. Winehouse also provided backing vocals for Bromfield on Strictly Come Dancing.
2009: Climate change awareness
In 2009, Amy Winehouse appeared on a CD called "Classics" alongside other musicians to raise awareness of climate change.
July 2010: Next album details
In July 2010, Amy Winehouse said her next album would be released by January 2011 and would resemble her second album. Mark Ronson, however, said that he hadn't begun recording it. She also performed "Valerie" with Ronson at a movie premiere but forgot lyrics.
November 2010: Q Soul Bossa Nostra contribution
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 performed a 40-minute concert at a Russian oligarch's party in Moscow, with the tycoon selecting the songs.
January 2011: Next album release date
In July 2010, Amy Winehouse was quoted as saying her next album would be released no later than January 2011.
March 2011: Charity shop donation
In March 2011, Amy Winehouse donated over £20,000 worth of clothes to a local charity shop in London.
June 2011: European tour cancellation
In June 2011, Amy Winehouse's European tour began in Belgrade with a disastrous performance. She was booed off stage, and Serbian defence minister called it "a huge shame". She subsequently cancelled all tour dates to seek help.
July 2011: Establishment of the Amy Winehouse Foundation
Following Amy Winehouse's death in July 2011, her family established the Amy Winehouse Foundation to aid vulnerable and disadvantaged young individuals.
September 2011: Amy Winehouse Foundation Launched
On September 14, 2011, which would have been Amy Winehouse's 28th birthday, the Amy Winehouse Foundation was officially launched with the aim of supporting vulnerable young people.
March 2013: Launch of Resilience Programme for Schools
On March 12, 2013, the Amy Winehouse Foundation, with the help of Russell Brand, launched the Resilience Programme For Schools across the UK to educate about drugs, alcohol, and emotional issues.
October 2015: Mark Ronson Becomes a Patron
In October 2015, Mark Ronson became a patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, furthering its mission to support vulnerable young people.
2020: Barbara Windsor's Patronage Ends
Barbara Windsor, one of the patrons of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, had ended before she died in 2020.
