Though a frequent subject of tabloid news headlines for drugs and arrests, Winehouse was widely influential "in the rise in popularity of female musicians and soul music and revitalising British music,'' according to Wikipedia. She grew up in North London listening to the pop jazz music favored by her Jewish parents. At 9, she was enrolled in the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School; at 10 she started her own rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with a friend.

At 14, she began singing with a jazz band and also worked part-time as a showbiz reporter. She quickly met success as a vocalist and signed to a 19 Management in 2002.

Winehouse's first album Frank was critically hailed in Britain, and her follow-up album Back To Black won her five Grammy awards including New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

But Winehouse was frequently in and out of drug rehabs, suffered from eating disorders, and was arrested several times on assault charges. She was once questioned by police after a videotape of her allegedly smoking cocaine was leaked to them.

She married and divorced Blake Fielder-Civil, with whom she had a stormy and often violent relationship. She once said of him: "He's the male version of me and we're perfect for each other."

Her tulmlutuous life lead Newsweek to ding her "a perfect storm of sex kitten, raw talent and poor impulse control" while the New Statesman donned her "a filthy-mouthed, down-to-earth diva."

The cause of her death is under investigation.