When the name and surname of Amy Winehouse are uttered, a common thought runs through all listeners. It's something along the lines of remembering her for an overdose of narcotics or perhaps alcohol. The thought that follows varies between seeing her as a waste of talent, grieving her death, or judging her character due to her addictions. It's a sad truth, however, that drug and alcohol abuse defined her then and now. To many of her fans, family, partners and producers, she was seen as much bigger than that. A woman known for her contralto voice and vivid mix of rhythm, blues, soul and jazz. A singer passionate about her career despite her persistent addictions during her later years. Amy Winehouse was born on September 14, 1983 in one of the greatest music-making capitals in the world, London. ("Amy Winehouse") Winehouse lived with her older brother, taxi driver father and pharmacist mother at their home in Southgate, London. ("Obituary: Amy Winehouse") Her divine musical talent came from her mother's side which included professional jazz musicians and singers. ("Amy Winehouse Biography") This and her parents' musical taste influenced both her interest in singing and the syncopated, blue note sounds of jazz. Her initial passion for Frank Sinatra's voice developed when her father sang his songs to her, but her parents separated when she turned nine. Her grandmother, however, encouraged her to hone her vocal talents and attend the Susi Earnshaw Theater School where she further developed her vocal and tap dancing skills. ("Obituary: Amy Winehouse") Winehouse became passionate about her verbal instrument and began training full-time at the Sylvia Young Theatre, but was soon expelled for... middle of paper... as claimed by so many other organizations in the best possible way. She was seen by many as a self-centered party girl, but the reality was that she was selfless. Amy Winehouse was part of a subgroup of her own. An impeccable talent but at the same time incredibly self-destructive. She was known for being classy yet wild and erratic, always doing her own thing which was always different and unique. Her voice was pure, raw talent and she knew it. From her iconic beehive hairstyle to her bold black cat eyeliner, she was a class apart taking the music industry by storm. A sad truth was that her addictions obscured who she truly was, a gem. Like many young artists, his abuse of narcotics and alcohol created a shadow over who he was as a person. Many speakers raised a profound question before his death; “A 'clean' Amy Winehouse would still be Amy Winehouse?”