Amy Winehouse’s goddaughter performs at UK fest

EASTNOR CASTLE DEER PARK: Amy Winehouse’s 15-year-old goddaughter performed an outstanding set at the Big Chill music festival, mirroring her late mentor by closing her show with a cover of Winehouse’s ”Love Is a Losing Game.”

Dionne Bromfield got teary-eyed when she performed the song, barely able to sing its last few words, though the crowd cheered her on.

”She was an amazing singer,” Bromfield said. ”She was not only my godmother, but she was my mentor and my boss as well.”

The big-voiced singer sang with ease during her 30-minute performance on Saturday, the second day of the U.K. music festival.

Bromfield was a reminder of Winehouse: She stood close to the mic while belting lyrics, with her big hair and tiny build.

She was backed by a 5-piece band and dancers, performing songs from her two albums and singing mainly about boys and relationship troubles.

Her scratchy voice was top-notch as she sang soul songs with pop flavors, especially on the old-school sounding ”Remember Our Love” and the up-tempo ”Yeah Right.” She also performed covers of Cee Lo Green’s smash ”Forget You” ”and the Shirelles’ ”Mama Said,” Bromfield’s first single.

Winehouse, who had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, was found dead of unknown causes at her London home on July 23.

Bromfield is signed to Winehouse’s label, Lioness Records.

Amy Winehouse - Officials Appeal For Return Of Amy Winehouse Street Signs

Officials in London are appealing for the return of a number of street signs which were stolen from around Amy Winehouse's home following her tragic death last month (Jul11).

Fans scrawled tributes on several signs close to the house in Camden, north London, where the singer was found dead on 23 July (11), and officials at Camden Council had planned to donate the plaques to Winehouse's family as a memorial.

However, four of the signs have been stolen, and council bosses are urging whoever is in possession of them to turn them into a police station.

Deputy council leader Sue Vincent tells the Bbc, "We are appealing to the good nature and conscience of the person or persons who stole the signs and are asking for them to be returned.

"We are not concerned with who took them, and will not be investigating this if we get them back. The signs can be returned to any police station in Camden and no questions will be asked."

A statement from the council adds, "Since Amy Winehouse's passing, fans have left messages on the signs, with the remaining street signs being given to the family."

The news comes as it emerged that Winehouse's relatives plan to turn the late star's house into the headquarters for a charity set up in her name. The Amy Winehouse Foundation's full mission statement will be unveiled on 14 September (11), on what would have been Winehouse's 28th birthday.

Spotlight Saturday - Amy Whinehouse

 

The soulful sultry voice of brit born Amy Whinehouse has been stifled long before its time as the 27 year old, best known for her old school sound and amazing contralto vocals was found dead this afternoon 4:00 UK time, in her home in Camden, London.  The cause of her passing remains 'unexplained' however, it's no secret that the young singer had an ongoing history with drugs & alcohol.  Whinehouse gained popularity in the UK several years before she came on the scene in America with her second album titled, 'Back To Black' in 2006.  Ironically, it wasn't until 2007, with her hit song 'Rehab' that she rose to fame here in the states.  Besides being noted for her vocal abilities, Amy was the muse to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.  She wasn't just the beehive, eyeliner and tattoos, she was an amazing talent who had the ability to infuse jazz, r&b and soul into every song she sang. .

JLS Want to Perform at Michael Jackson Tribute Concert

JLS have revealed that they would love to perform at this year’s Michael Jackson Tribute concert.
They also said that if there was a tribute concert for Amy Whinehouse that they would love to perform.
JLS band member JB spoke to the Daily Star of the 27-year-old’s death: “It’s always a shame when anyone dies, but Amy’s music will live on. I send my condolences to her family.
“If there is a memorial concert for her of course we would be to take part, the same as with Michael Jackson. I’ll have to get our management to talk to the organisers of that show in Wales.”
..

Hive Jive

It was called 'the bouffant, the up-do & the B52', but the beehive that originated in Chicago in 1960 was the true definition of the 'big hair' fad that caught on like wild fire and gained world wide appeal.  The overly back combed, overly aqua netted style, was named the 'beehive' because it actually looks like a hive, or a nest of some sorts.  It's been said that part of the allure of the style is that it added the illusion of height to the wearer.  I know the history of the hive first hand as my mother who grew up in that era told me she sported the style when she was 16.  She said..."The higher the hive, the cooler you were considered to be".  The first girl group to get on board with this style was 'The Ronettes' but the trend lasted through to the late 70's with the emergence of the pop culture iconic group 'The B52's', as band members Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson rocked their own retro version of the boof.

Well into the 80's it continued to trail blaze & continued to be re-popularized, especially after the cult John Waters film, 'Hair Spray' starring drag queen Divine & Ricky Lake was released, & over dramatized the 'do' to the hilt! & it made it's way back again with a re do of the popular movie from the same script starring John Travolta in drag & newcomer Nikki Blonsky in 2007.

In 2006, Amy Whinehouse stepped on the music scene with her signature style which was soon to be emulated by her female followers.  Her hair was what she was known for aside from her amazing other worldly vocal abilities. It was stated that her poof measured close to a half of a foot high!  In her whole career regardless of her state of being, you never saw her minus the hair-do.  She was quoted as saying ...  "My hair is always on point, even if the rest of me is really naff." 

This vintage hairstyle just seems to keep evolving but has definitely come along way from it's beginnings when it was originally created by Margaret Vinci Heldt, winner of the 1954 National Coiffure Championship.

This variation of the style won an award at a British hairstyling competition in 2010 which is sheer proof that in years to come we're just going to keep seeing the style moving into new and exciting directions!

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70's Vintage Punk Rock Vixen Wendy O Williams

Before there was Madonna, Lady Gaga, or any other who was considered to be a 'shock rocker' female pop star, there was a force to be reckoned with and her name was Wendy O Williams.  If you were growing up in the late seventies to early eighties, you know exactly who I'm talking about!  In July of 1978, her band 'The Plasmatics' gave it's debut performance at the infamous CBGB in New York. Williams instantly became a punk rock cult icon for the ages and had a consistent following during her career thereafter.  

If you think today's female musicians have pushed the envelope in regards to what's considered controversial or taboo, Wendy O puts them in the rank of saints compared to her on stage antics. Williams was an intense personality on every level and it came through in her lyrics, her persona and most of all her wardrobe which was mostly 'skin'.  She was big on strategically placed electrical tape.  In the early 80's she was arrested several times for simulating sex on stage, attempting battery on an officer and for perpetrating obscene conduct.  She even went as far as to perform in nothing but shaving cream on one occasion!  This chick was off the hook crazy and the crowds ate it up!

After The Plasmatics went their separate ways, Williams attempted a solo career in 1984 when she released an album titled "W.O.W" that was produced by Kiss members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley & Ace Frehley.  She also gave a shot at acting appearing in the 1986 indie film, 'Reform School Girls'.  She ended up retiring all together in 1991 and toned it down quite a bit ending up working in a health food store, citing that she was just sick of people!   

Unfortunately, Wendy O Williams stage act was not an act at all, the brash & hardcore personality she portrayed to the public, was really who she was on the inside.  In 1993 she attempted suicide by hammering a knife into her chest but she changed her mind when it just lodged in her sternum.  Another attempt occurred in 1997 with an ephedrine overdose and finally she succeeded on April 6th 1998 when she went into the woods near her home and shot herself.  She was only 48.  This vintage music vixen was the epitome of a bad girl style icon and definitely paved the way for those who followed in her footsteps, so f.y.i. it wasn't a big revelation when Amy Whinehouse, Lady Gaga or Pink rocked the tape, as the punk rock vixen queen of 'shock & awe', Wendy O Williams had 'been there and done that' when they were still in diapers!        

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Spotlight Saturday - Amy Whinehouse

The soulful sultry voice of brit born Amy Whinehouse has been stifled long before its time as the 27 year old, best known for her old school sound and amazing contralto vocals was found dead this afternoon 4:00 UK time, in her home in Camden, London.  The cause of her passing remains 'unexplained' however, it's no secret that the young singer had an ongoing history with drugs & alcohol.  Whinehouse gained popularity in the UK several years before she came on the scene in America with her second album titled, 'Back To Black' in 2006.  Ironically, it wasn't until 2007, with her hit song 'Rehab' that she rose to fame here in the states.  Besides being noted for her vocal abilities, Amy was the muse to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.  She wasn't just the beehive, eyeliner and tattoos, she was an amazing talent who had the ability to infuse jazz, r&b and soul into every song she sang.   

                                      In the spotlight today...            
                                      Amy Jade Whinehouse
                            September 14th 1983 - July 23rd 2011


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