Amy Winehouse, the British soul singer behind hits like “Rehab” and “You Know I’m No Good,” has been confirmed dead by UK authorities. She was found deceased in her London home on Saturday of an alleged substance overdose.
The singer, whose personal struggles often overshadowed her immense talent, spawned a wave of 1960s soul throwbacks (Duffy, Adele, Leona Lewis) and enjoyed immense critical and commercial success with her second album, 2006’s Back to Black. Rising to stardom with her debut, Frank, Winehouse solidified her success when she released the immensely catchy single “Rehab.” With its unforgettable chorus, the song was an unfortunate foreshadowing of her future.
Since Back to Black, Winehouse has released only two songs, a cover of the Zutons’ “Valerie” for producer Mark Ronson’s 2007 album Version and a cover of the classic Leslie Gore track “It’s My Party” with Quincy Jones in 2010. She has remained in the headlines, however, for the often erratic nature of her live concerts, her struggles with the law, and her tendency to appear in public under the influence. Her latest tour was recently rescheduled after a series of disappointing performances in which she appeared to forget she was performing, slurred words, wandered around the stage aimlessly, and got her backing musicians to sing for her.