UK “Rehab” singer Winehouse found dead

Amy Winehouse

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Amy Winehouse, one of the most  talented singers of her generation whose hit song “Rehab” summed  up her personal struggles with addiction, died in London today at the age of 27.
The multiple Grammy winner, famed for her black beehive  hair, soulful voice and erratic behaviour both on and off stage,  was found dead at her home in Camden, north London. Police were  called to the address at around 1500 GMT.
“Inquiries continue into the circumstances of the death at  this early stage. It is being treated as unexplained,” a police  spokesman said. Sky News quoted police sources as saying they  suspected the death was caused by a drugs overdose.
“We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted  musician, artist and performer,” her record label Universal said  in a statement. “Our prayers go out to Amy’s family, friends and  fans at this difficult time.”
Friends and family had long warned that Winehouse’s  lifestyle, which saw her in and out of rehab and affected her  career as a live and recording artist, could be her downfall.
Winehouse’s last filmed performance was last month in  Serbia, when she was jeered by the crowd, struggled to perform  her songs and keep her balance as her band gamely played on. On  some tunes, the audience did most of the singing.
The performance, which was posted on the YouTube video  sharing site, prompted her management to cancel all her  scheduled performances and give the performer as long as it took  to recover.
Police cordoned off the leafy street outside Winehouse’s  home in Camden, where dozens of onlookers had gathered along  with fans, media photographers and camera crew. It is understood  Winehouse had only just moved into her new home.
Winehouse’s father Mitch, who has launched his own musical  career on the back of his daughter’s success, had been in New  York when the news broke. British media said he was on his way  back to London.
Tributes poured in for an artist whose personal troubles  stole most of the headlines in recent years.
Sarah Brown, wife of former prime minister Gordon Brown,  tweeted: “sad sad news of Amy Winehouse – great talent,  extraordinary voice, and tragic death, condolences to her  family.”
Kelly Osbourne, a singer and television personality, also  took to the micro blogging site to react: “i cant even breath  right now im crying so hard i just lost 1 of my best friends. i  love you forever Amy & will never forget the real you!”

SAD BUT NO SURPRISE
Broadcaster and radio DJ Paul Gambaccini said Winehouse’s  early death was sadly no surprise.
“We have been dreading this news for some time, hoping  against hope that she would turn herself around, but she showed  no evidence of being able to do so,” he told BBC TV.
“She just could not control herself. It’s tragic because  both (her) albums were superb. We have 40 years of Frank Sinatra  records, it turns out we only have two Amy Winehouse records.”
Winehouse was born on Sept. 14, 1983, to a Jewish family  with a history of jazz musicians. She was discovered by soul  singer Tyler James at the age of 16 and in 2003 her debut album  “Frank” was released, to general acclaim.
Her second album “Back to Black” was released in October  2006 and reached the No. 1 spot in Britain and earned her five  Grammy awards, pop music’s equivalent of the Oscars.
The album’s hit single “Rehab” contained the line: “They  tried to make me go to rehab. I said ‘no, no, no'”.

Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse