Amy Winehouse Dead at 27

Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures
Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures – Island Records

The incredibly talented but troubled singer Amy Winehouse passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2011 of as-yet-undetermined causes. The five-time Grammy Award-winning Winehouse was found dead in her North London home, and an autopsy is being performed today. The singer’s problems with drugs and alcohol abuse were public knowledge, and after she was discovered at home by a member of her security team, an overdose was immediately speculated to be the cause of Winehouse’s death.

Since the shocking but unfortunately not so-surprising news broke, fans have gathered in front of her home, leaving notes and signs, flowers, and other gifts of remembrance. Sales of songs from her album Back to Black have soared on iTunes.

Following her passing, her family issued the following statement:

“Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, and niece,” said the statement. “She leaves a gaping hole in our lives. We are coming together to remember her and we would appreciate some privacy and space at this terrible time.”

Winehouse is not the only singer to die at the young age of 27. With her death on Saturday, Winehouse joins the ranks of the ’27 Club’ whose members include Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain.