Singer Amy Winehouse found dead
CBC News
Posted: Jul 23, 2011 12:47 PM ET
Last Updated: Jul 23, 2011 4:42 PM ET
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Troubled soul singer Amy Winehouse, who had been attempting a comeback after a few years battling drug and alcohol addiction, has been found dead in her London home, her record company confirmed Saturday.
Her record label Universal confirmed the 27-year-old singer's death in a statement Saturday, saying the company's staff were "deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer."
"Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans at this difficult time," the label said.
London police issued a statement Saturday saying an unnamed 27-year-old female had been pronounced dead at the scene at a home in north London.
"Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained," said Metropolitan Police.
The size of Winehouse's appeal was reflected in the extraordinary range of people paying tribute as they heard the news, from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who posted "such a waste, raw talent" on Twitter to Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, who said he was dedicating Saturday's reunion performance of his band The Faces to Winehouse.
'I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent has come to such an early end.'—Tony Bennett
"It's a very sad loss of a very good friend I spent many great times with," said Wood on Saturday.
Tony Bennett, who recorded the pop standard Body And Soul with Winehouse at Abbey Road Studios in London in March for an upcoming duets album, called her "an artist of immense proportions."
"She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent has come to such an early end," he said.
Soon after the news broke, Canadian rocker Bryan Adams took to Twitter to lament the loss of his friend.
"Dear Amy, you will be missed forever," he wrote. "All my love, RIP, Bryan."
Adams had done his part to try to help Winehouse. In 2007, he reportedly invited Winehouse to spend Christmas at his Caribbean villa on the private island of Mustique, where she could recuperate away from the spotlight.
Erratic performances forced tour cancellation
Winehouse rose to fame in 2006 with the success of her sophomore album Back to Black, which featured the smash hit song Rehab. In 2008, she won five Grammy Awards — including best new artist and record of the year — but her ongoing struggles with substance abuse, erratic onstage behaviour, legal battles and other personal problems overshadowed her musical achievements.
Her death comes after a recent performance sparked questions over the singer's health and rumours Winehouse had suffered a relapse into drug and alcohol abuse.
The singer showed up nearly an hour late for a concert in June at Belgrade's Kalemegdan Park and disappointed the crowd of approximately 20,000 by stumbling about, mumbling through her songs and occasionally exiting the stage — leaving her bewildered band and backup singers performing in her place.
The concert was to be the first of a 12-date tour, which was cancelled soon after.
Though she was flooded with a variety of musical accolades over the years, the performer made headlines in Britain and worldwide for her increasingly erratic behaviour, disheveled appearance, poor performance at recent concerts and substance abuse problem.
Winehouse also had a tumultuous marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil, whom she married in 2007. They had many public spats, which often turned violent. The couple divorced in 2009.
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