More about: Amy WinehouseMark RonsonTyler James
Late singer's 'close friends' set tribute gig
Mark Ronson and Tyler James are set to perform a special show in London tonight for the Amy Winehouse Foundation ball. Both stars were close to Amy before her death.
Ronson and James were two of the late singer's closest friends in the music industry, and it has been revealed both will play tonight's charity event to raise money for the homeless.
James in particular was friends with Winehouse from the age of 13 after the pair both attended Sylvia Young Theatre school. The star of TV talent show, The Voice, 'dedicated his life' to trying help Winehouse overcome her alcohol problems until her death last year.
Ronson produced Winehouse's seminal second album 'Back to Black'. The singer also collaborated with him on his cover of The Zutons track 'Valerie', which appeared on his album 'Versions'.
Speaking about the event, Amy's father, Mitch Winehouse said: "We’re just really carrying on the work she was starting. She was particularly concerned with homeless people as well."
Mitch went onto to recount a time when Amy had taken a homeless woman into her home. He added: "There was this young lady walking around in Amy’s house and I said, 'Amy who’s this young girl?' and she said, 'Dad she’s homeless. I’m looking after her.'"
Tyler James and Amy Winehouse in 2009
The Amy Winehouse Foundation aims to give support and advice to homeless young people, as well as providing beds for the homeless throughout the winter.
Having been set up following Winehouse's death last year the foundation raised £230,000 by its first anniversary.
Charities that have benefited include the New Horizon Youth Centre, and Fitzrovia Youth in Action.
The Ball will take place at London's Dorchester Hotel tonight, and will also feature performances from Matt Goss and Jamie Cullum.
See the video for Mark Ronson's cover of 'Valerie' featuring Amy Winehouse below.
Below: Amy Winehouse - the legacy. The beehive to the denim shorts
The beehive: The incredible hairdo was invented in 1960, and we don''t think anyone has rocked it as well (or as big) as Amy since then. OK, well maybe Marge Simpson. But she''s fictional...
Camden: Camden Town in North London was always synonymous with the singer, and to honour it being her spiritual home, venue The Roundhouse plans to have a statue of Amy installed to serve as a memorial.
The voice: No one could sing like Amy. She truly was one of the most outstanding and instantly recognisable talents the UK has produced, taking an ageing genre and making it sexy, relevant and incredibly cool.
The Tattoos: Amy was asked to cover up the naked woman on her left arm for a performance at the Grammys in 2008, so rather than putting on more clothes, she just drew a bra on the girl. Nice.
Those denim shorts: Did she ever wear anything else?
The excess: The troubled singer maintained a constant battle against drink and drugs. Although the star was clean of any illegal substances at the time of her death, it was a huge alcohol binge that ultimately caused her untimely demise.
The bad-boys: The singer was famously friends with the equally troubled Pete Doherty, and her on/off marriage to Blake Fielder Civil was littered with rumours of assault and drug abuse. Civil even once told a British newspaper that he introduced Amy to Crack Cocaine and Heroin.
''Rehab'': No, not the clinic, the song. As the first single from second album ''Back to Black'', ''Rehab'' received huge critical acclaim and rocketed Amy to stardom. She went on to release massive hits ''You Know I''m No Good'' and ''Tears Dry On Their Own''.
She was funny: A couple of appearances on BBC''s Never Mind The Buzzcocks showed that she was not only funny, but more than happy to give Simon Amstell as good as she got.
Mitch Winehouse: Amy was incredibly close to her father Mitch, and had a tattoo saying ''Daddy''s Girl'' on her arm. Mitch was a professional singer in the 1970s, and last year tried to reignite his musical career.
More about: Amy WinehouseMark RonsonTyler James
Photo: WENN
