Childhood and Education Journey of Amy Winehouse in Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Amy Winehouse. From birth to education, explore key events.
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.
1975: Natalie Cole's Grammy Win
In 1975, Natalie Cole, who later introduced Amy Winehouse at the Grammys, won a Grammy for Best New Artist while battling her own substance abuse problems.
1979: Birth of Older Brother, Alex
In 1979, Amy Winehouse's older brother, Alex, was born, establishing her sibling relationship within the family.
September 1983: Amy Winehouse's Birth
Amy Jade Winehouse was born in September 1983, establishing the beginning of her life and eventual career as a celebrated singer and songwriter.
1983: Mental Health Act
In April 2008, Amy Winehouse's father and manager sought to have her detained under the Mental Health Act of 1983.
1992: Enrollment at Susi Earnshaw Theatre School
In 1992, Amy Winehouse was enrolled in the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School at the suggestion of her grandmother Cynthia to further her vocal education.
1997: Protection from Harassment Act
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997, was used in 2009 to obtain an injunction against a paparazzi agency, Big Pictures, banning them from following her and photographing her near her home, friends, and relatives due to concerns for her safety.
2003: Mother's Diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis
In 2003, Amy Winehouse's mother, Janis Winehouse, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, impacting the family dynamics.
2005: Period of Substance Abuse and Weight Loss
In 2005, Amy Winehouse experienced a period marked by drinking, heavy drug use, and weight loss, signaling a challenging phase in her life.
2006: Admits to Assaulting a Fan
In 2006, Amy Winehouse admitted to punching a female fan for criticizing her relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil, and then kneeing Fielder-Civil.
2006: Relationship with Alex Clare
In 2006, Amy Winehouse dated chef-musician Alex Clare, during a break from Blake Fielder-Civil. Clare later sold his story to the News of the World.
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.
June 2007: Admission of Violence Towards Husband
In June 2007, Amy Winehouse admitted she could be violent towards Blake Fielder-Civil after drinking, revealing a volatile aspect of their relationship.
July 2007: Assault on Pub Landlord
In July 2007, Blake Fielder-Civil assaulted a pub landlord, breaking the victim's cheekbone. This incident led to his imprisonment in 2008 and briefly involved Amy Winehouse in the investigation.
August 2007: Photographed Bloodied and Bruised
In August 2007, Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil were photographed in London, bloodied and bruised after an alleged fight, highlighting the tumultuous nature of their relationship.
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.
October 2007: Arrested for Cannabis Possession in Norway
In October 2007, Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil were arrested in Bergen, Norway, for possession of cannabis, later released and fined.
November 2007: Cancellation of Tour Dates
In November 2007, Amy Winehouse canceled her remaining performances and public appearances due to health concerns and doctor's advice.
December 2007: Enters Physician-Supervised Program
In December 2007, Amy Winehouse's spokesman announced that she had entered a physician-supervised program, using her difficulties to channel creativity into writing music.
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.
January 2008: Video Surfaces of Apparent Drug Use
In January 2008, a video surfaced in The Sun appearing to show Amy Winehouse smoking crack cocaine. Later that month, her father moved in with her and Island Records abandoned plans for an American promotion campaign.
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.
April 2008: Erratic Behavior and Relapse Fears
By late April 2008, Amy Winehouse's erratic behavior raised concerns that her drug rehabilitation efforts had been unsuccessful, leading to her father and manager seeking to have her detained under the Mental Health Act of 1983.
April 2008: Named Second-Greatest 'Ultimate Heroine'
In April 2008, Amy Winehouse was voted the second-greatest "ultimate heroine" in a Sky News poll by the UK population, ranking first among those under 25.
April 2008: Cautioned for Common Assault
On April 26, 2008, Amy Winehouse was cautioned after admitting to police that she slapped a man in the face, a "common assault" offense.
May 2008: Sculpture in London Exhibition
In May 2008, London's Mall Galleries displayed a sculpture of Amy Winehouse titled "Excess," depicting her with pills and a cracked champagne bottle.
June 2008: Health Concerns Revealed
In June 2008, Amy Winehouse's publicist clarified that she had signs of what could lead to early-stage emphysema, not full-blown emphysema as previously stated. Her father also reported concerns about her lung capacity and irregular heartbeat due to smoking crack cocaine, and warned about the potential need for an oxygen mask.
July 2008: Diagnosis of Emphysema Areas
In July 2008, Amy Winehouse stated she had been diagnosed with "some areas of emphysema" and was focusing on healthy habits while writing letters to her husband.
July 2008: Imprisonment of Blake Fielder-Civil
In July 2008, Blake Fielder-Civil was imprisoned following a guilty plea on charges including grievous bodily harm from an incident in July 2007. Amy Winehouse was briefly arrested in connection to the incident.
July 2008: Media's Role in Undermining Celebrities
In July 2008, Jeff Zycinski of BBC Radio Scotland criticized the media for undermining celebrities like Amy Winehouse, questioning the newsworthiness of her lifestyle. Lily Allen defended Winehouse, highlighting her intelligence and wit despite her struggles.
July 2008: Reported Drug Use and Self-Harm
In July 2008, during a visit with Mitch Winehouse at the prison, Blake Fielder-Civil reportedly stated that he and Amy Winehouse would cut themselves to ease withdrawal pain, and Winehouse reportedly confessed to having an affair.
September 2008: Alleged Assault at Charity Ball
In September 2008, Amy Winehouse allegedly assaulted dancer Sherene Flash at the Prince's Trust charity ball, leading to later legal issues.
September 2008: Rumors of Relapse
In September 2008, Amy Winehouse's dishevelled appearance after a club night sparked new rumors of a relapse, with reports of cuts on her arms and legs.
October 2008: Lung Testing at London Clinic
On October 25, 2008, Amy Winehouse began precautionary testing on her lungs and chest at the London Clinic for a reported chest infection.
November 2008: Return to Hospital Due to Medication Reaction
On November 23, 2008, Amy Winehouse returned to the hospital due to a reported reaction to her medication.
2008: Wealth Listing
In 2008, Amy Winehouse had an estimated £10m fortune, tying her for tenth place in The Sunday Times listing of the wealth of musicians under age 30.
2008: Quits Illegal Substances
In 2008, Amy Winehouse reportedly quit using illegal substances, according to her physician, marking a significant shift in her battle with addiction.
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.
January 2009: Spotted with Josh Bowman, Divorce Proceedings Begin
In early January 2009, Amy Winehouse was seen with Josh Bowman in Saint Lucia, expressing she was in love and no longer needed drugs. On January 12, divorce papers were received, citing adultery.
February 2009: Continued Imprisonment of Fielder-Civil
As of February 2009, Blake Fielder-Civil remained imprisoned following his guilty plea in July 2008, related to the assault of a pub landlord in July 2007.
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.
March 2009: Arrested for Common Assault
In March 2009, Amy Winehouse was arrested and charged with common assault following accusations of hitting a dancer at a charity ball. This led to the cancellation of her US Coachella Festival appearance.
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.
July 2009: Uncontested Divorce Granted
On July 16, 2009, Amy Winehouse's divorce from Blake Fielder-Civil was granted uncontested, marking the end of their marriage.
August 2009: Divorce Finalized
On August 28, 2009, Amy Winehouse's divorce from Blake Fielder-Civil became final, with Fielder-Civil receiving no money in the settlement.
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.
December 2009: Arrest for Assault at Milton Keynes Theatre
In December 2009, Amy Winehouse was arrested for common assault and public order offence after assaulting the front-of-house manager at the Milton Keynes Theatre. She pleaded guilty and received a conditional discharge.
2009: Injunction Against Paparazzi
In 2009, Amy Winehouse obtained a High Court injunction against Big Pictures, a paparazzi agency, banning them from following her and photographing her near her home, friends, and relatives due to concerns for her safety.
October 2010: Decision to Quit Drugs
In October 2010, Amy Winehouse stated she decided to quit drugs. However, alcohol emerged as a problem, with periods of abstinence followed by abuse.
October 2010: Fashion Collection Release
In October 2010, Amy Winehouse's 17-piece fashion collection with Fred Perry was released for sale. She was involved in the design process.
2010: Ronson's Interview on Working with Winehouse
In a 2010 interview, Mark Ronson shared insights about working with Amy Winehouse, highlighting her bluntness and their collaborative dynamics.
2010: Relationship with Reg Traviss Begins
In early 2010, Amy Winehouse began a relationship with British writer and film director Reg Traviss, which lasted until her death. There were reports of planned marriage and children.
March 2011: Charity shop donation
In March 2011, Amy Winehouse donated over £20,000 worth of clothes to a local charity shop in London.
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. She died three days later on July 23.
July 2011: Death in London
On July 23, 2011, Amy Winehouse was found unresponsive at her home in Camden, London, and was pronounced dead at the scene at the age of 27.
July 2011: Private Funeral Service
On July 26, 2011, Amy Winehouse's funeral was held at Edgwarebury Lane Cemetery in North London, a private ceremony for family and friends.
August 2011: Toxicology Report Released
In August 2011, a toxicology report revealed that no illegal substances were found in Amy Winehouse's system at the time of her death, disproving initial speculations.
October 2011: Coroner's Report on Death
In October 2011, the coroner's report stated that Amy Winehouse's blood alcohol content was 0.416% at the time of her death, leading to a verdict of "death by misadventure".
2011: Reports of Potential Adoption in St. Lucia
In 2011, reports surfaced about Amy Winehouse's potential adoption of a 10-year-old girl from St. Lucia named Dannika Augustine, with whom she had formed a close bond. However, Winehouse's representative denied these claims.
September 2012: Ashes Buried
On September 16, 2012, Amy Winehouse's ashes were buried alongside those of her grandmother Cynthia Levy at Edgwarebury Lane Cemetery.
December 2012: Reopening of Death Probe
In December 2012, British authorities reopened the probe into Amy Winehouse's death.
January 2013: Second Inquest Confirmed Alcohol Poisoning
In January 2013, a second inquest confirmed the findings of the first inquest, ruling Amy Winehouse's death as a misadventure due to alcohol poisoning.
June 2013: Alex Winehouse Believes Eating Disorder Primary Cause of Death
In a June 2013 interview, Alex Winehouse shared his belief that his sister's eating disorder, and the consequent physical weakness, was the primary cause of her death.
2013: "Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait" Exhibition
In 2013, the Jewish Museum London held an exhibition titled "Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait" in memory of Amy Winehouse, tracing her family's history from Minsk to London.
