A is for Amy Winehouse

"What she is, [is] mouthy, funny, sultry, and quite possibly crazy... It's impossible not to be seduced by her originality."

Her music spans across the genre's of soul, jazz, rock and roll and ska, and teamed with her most incredibly strong and beautiful voice, Amy Winehouse is one of my most favourite female solo artists. She's been one savvy lady- getting together with Sharon Jones' backing band the Dap-Kings (another personal fave) for studio time and tour support, and then hooking up with Marc Ronson back in 2006 and recording Back to Black.

I remember the first time I heard the track Rehab, and quickly logged onto Last Fm. to listen to the rest of the album- the tracks You Know that I'm No Good and Love is a Losing Game struck me immediately, and are still on high rotation on my humble little shuffle.

Sadly, like many great performers before her, her mental health and substance abuse issues threaten to overcome her. I just hope she can continue to fight off the demons, make it past the age of 27 and keep doing what she does best.