This woman is my bread and butter, a total game changer, and my favorite record on vinyl. Her voice hits deep, and her experience is authentic creating something beautiful. She mixes the worlds of rock, pop, soul, and jazz to create an experience for the listener.

Amy Jade Winehouse began her career in her home country of Great Britain, but she really hit her stride when she took her lovely vocals state side. Her albums included Frank, Back to Black, and Lioness: Hidden Treasures. My personal favorite song of hers is Valerie followed up by Mr. Jones. Her beautiful mix of musical style makes every song feel like something special, makes the listener feel like something special. She has music for all moods and all messages and will ultimately go down as one of the game changers in the world of music.

Another member of the 27 club, Amy’s life was cut short by alcohol poisoning on the fateful not of July 23, 2011. Though not as controversial as Kurt Cobain’s death, it was every bit as tragic. She was found dead in her room with two empty vodka bottles next to her. She had struggled with mental health prior to her death which led to her eating disorder, her binge drinking, and her anxiety medication Librium; all of these factors only multiplied the effects of the alcohol on her body. While she did voluntarily drink that amount of alcohol, it is not considered a suicide.

Amy was the epitome of heart and soul in the world of music, and her hair and eyeliner were almost as iconic as her music. If you want to know more about this icon, watch her documentary, Amy.