Twenty years after its release, Amy Winehouse's Back to Black is being celebrated all over again. An expanded 20th anniversary edition with demos, B-sides and a 2007 live set arrives on 23 October 2026, and her band, led by producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, performs the album in full at Camden's Roundhouse on 21 October.
Few British singers have left such a mark in so short a time. Here is the story of her music and her legacy, and you can discover more great voices in our female singers collection.
Amy Winehouse Fact File
| Full name | Amy Jade Winehouse |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 September 1983 |
| Place of birth | Enfield, London, England (raised in Southgate) |
| Died | 23 July 2011, Camden, London (aged 27) |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 2003-2011 |
| Genres | Soul, R&B, jazz |
| Labels | Island Records (UK), Universal Republic (US) |
| Signature | Beehive hair, winged eyeliner and a voice steeped in jazz and soul |
Career History
| Year | Album | Label/Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Frank | Island - UK No. 3, Mercury Prize shortlist |
| 2006 | Back to Black | Island - UK No. 1, over 20 million sold worldwide |
| 2011 | Lioness: Hidden Treasures | Island - posthumous, UK No. 1 |
| 2012 | Amy at the BBC | Island - live recordings |
| 2022 | Live at Glastonbury 2007 | Island - live album |
| 2026 | Back to Black (20th Anniversary) | Republic/UMe - expanded reissue, due 23 October |
Amy released two studio albums in her lifetime; the rest are posthumous releases. Chart peaks are UK Official Albums Chart positions.
A North London Girl With a Big Voice
Amy grew up in Southgate in a family that loved jazz, and she studied at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and, briefly, the BRIT School. Her debut album Frank, made largely with producer Salaam Remi and released in October 2003, mixed jazz, soul and hip-hop with sharp, witty songwriting. It was shortlisted for the 2004 Mercury Prize, and "Stronger Than Me" won her a first Ivor Novello Award.
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Back to Black
Released in October 2006, Back to Black paired Amy with Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi for a sound inspired by 1960s girl groups and classic soul. Songs such as "Rehab", "You Know I'm No Good" and the title track made her a worldwide star. The album topped the UK chart, reached the US top ten and has sold more than 20 million copies. In 2025 it was added to the US National Recording Registry.
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Grammy Night and Final Recordings
At the 2008 Grammys, Amy won five awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist, setting a record for a British female act. Her final recording, a duet of "Body and Soul" with Tony Bennett, won a Grammy in 2012. Amy died at her home in Camden on 23 July 2011, aged 27. The posthumous collection Lioness: Hidden Treasures went to No. 1 in the UK that December.
Legacy, Films and the 20th Anniversary
Asif Kapadia's documentary Amy (2015) won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. In 2024, Sam Taylor-Johnson's biopic Back to Black starred Marisa Abela as Amy, with Jack O'Connell, Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville. The 2026 anniversary concert features guest singers including Jorja Smith, Lianne La Havas and Corinne Bailey Rae, and will be shown on BBC Two.
Awards
Grammy Awards (6 wins)
- 2008: Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Rehab"
- 2008: Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album for Back to Black
- 2012: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Body and Soul" with Tony Bennett
UK Honours
- Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist (2007)
- Three Ivor Novello Awards (2004, 2007, 2008)
- Two Mercury Prize nominations (2004, 2007)
- MOBO Award for Best UK Female (2007)
Away From the Spotlight
Amy's family launched the Amy Winehouse Foundation on 14 September 2011, which would have been her 28th birthday. The charity supports vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, including a resilience programme for UK secondary schools and music projects that help young artists develop.
FAQs
How old was Amy Winehouse when she died?
Amy Winehouse died on 23 July 2011 at the age of 27.
What is Amy Winehouse's full name?
Her full name was Amy Jade Winehouse.
Where was Amy Winehouse born?
She was born in Enfield, north London, on 14 September 1983 and grew up in nearby Southgate.
How many albums did Amy Winehouse release?
She released two studio albums in her lifetime, Frank (2003) and Back to Black (2006). Lioness: Hidden Treasures followed in 2011.
How many Grammys did Amy Winehouse win?
She won six Grammy Awards: five in 2008 and one in 2012 for "Body and Soul" with Tony Bennett.
Who plays Amy Winehouse in Back to Black?
Marisa Abela plays Amy in the 2024 biopic Back to Black, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.
Shop the Amy Winehouse Collection
Our Amy Winehouse designs are fan-made tribute pieces, each one printed to order in the UK.
Discover more legends in our female singers collection and R&B music collection, or design your own with a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Whitney Houston: The Voice, Her Albums, Story and Legacy and David Bowie: The Starman's Albums, Story and Lasting Legacy.
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