The Life and Times of Amy Winehouse

Despite being refused entrance to the United States, Winehouse won five Grammy awards in February 2008.

Amy Winehouse, 24, was born on Sept. 14 1983 in Enfield, Middlesex, to a Jewish family with a history of jazz musicians.

She was discovered by soul singer Tyler James at the age of 16 and in 2003 her debut album "Frank" was released, to general acclaim.

Her second album "Back to Black" was released in October 2006 and reached the No. 1 spot.

The album's hit single "Rehab," with the prescient line: "They tried to make me go to rehab. I said 'no, no, no'" has been called the anthem of celebrity trash culture.

In October 2007, she and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil were arrested at a Norwegian hotel for marijuana possession, and soon afterward fans booed her on stage as she slurred her way through her gigs.

Two months later she was photographed wandering barefoot on a London street, wearing only jeans and a bra and looking confused.

Fielder-Civil is currently awaiting trial on charges of perverting the course of justice in relation to a fight in a pub.

Despite being refused entrance to the United States, Winehouse won five Grammy awards in February 2008.

April has seen mixed fortunes. She was nominated three times for the Ivor Novello awards in May and joined the elite ranks of music millionaires in the Sunday Times rich list with an estimated fortune of 10 million pounds.

"Winning Grammys have given her a really good profile in the United States. She has such a smooth voice but let's hope she doesn't blow it all," said Sunday Times Rich List editor Philip Beresford.

But on the same day as the Rich List came out, she had to attend a police station to answer questions in connection with an alleged assault after a fracas outside a club.