Remembering Amy
“I was traveling when news of the passing of Amy Winehouse broke, so now that I’ve returned I wanted to share how deeply saddened I was when I learned of the death of this beautifully talented girl. There are not many young singers today whose knowledge of the great female jazz singers could match Amy’s. When we first met at the Concert for Mandela’s 90th Birthday a few years ago, it was actually her father who asked me if I would mind spending a few minutes with his daughter. When I met her, she took my hand in hers and began telling me how much she loved albums that I had done in the 50’s, back when I was her age! I was shocked. I remember seeing the joy in her eyes as she asked me about working with Dinah and Ella and Sarah Vaughn, and the joy that I felt seeing how much she revered those great women. I realized at that moment that as a vocalist, that was how she saw herself.
Amy’s talents as an artist were undisputable and I was astounded not only by her voice but by her tremendous knowledge of and respect for music and its history. I was thrilled that she and Mark recorded “It’s My Party” for the Soul Bossa Nostra album and I absolutely loved what they did to make the song their own. Of course we had no way of knowing that it would be the last released music from her before she left us, but I am enormously proud that it was. Like all of her fans, I will miss her terribly. But I will find joy in remembering the special time we spent together.” – Quincy Jones, 8/23/11