Back at the old TV station we’d often play music in the studio between shows. Bill Koczocik would take out his iPod and plug it into a set of speakers near the lighting grid controller.
Bill’s taste is varied and eclectic. It was he who introduced me to the music of Amy Winehouse.
Amy Winehouse was found dead earlier today. This wasn’t a great surprise considering her well publicized history of substance abuse. It’s still a tragic shame. She was as talented as she was flawed.
Here’s the song that served as my entree to Amy’s music, Valerie. There are a few versions of this song, but we listened to the Baby J. remix version featuring Mark Ronson.
What a damned shame.
It is a shame. I wasn’t familiar with her music at all, but it’s always tragic when one succumbs to drugs and alcohol. She was about the same age as my son, I feel for her parents. Too young. So sad.
Amy Winehouse was a musical genius who, sadly, couldn’t outrun her demons.
I hope her legacy will ultimately be her music and not the manner of her demise. The other members of the “27 Club” (which includes Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison) were mostly able to achieve that, and I wish the same for her.
I spend a lot of time in music clubs in the UK, and her influence has already been widespread over there for several years now. Adele would not have a career if Amy Winshouse (and also to a great extent her producer, Mark Ronson) had not been there first to pave the way.
R.I.P.