Radio Times

Review by:

Scott Bryan

It’s been a year since the death of Amy Winehouse. This fact surprised me, but then I realised that after all the drama surrounding her death and the conflicting reports about the circumstances under which she died, her name has barely dropped out of the news until recently. So it’s a real comfort to hear that this documentary, presented by Guy Garvey, focuses on her inspirational, delicate music rather than how her career ended so prematurely. You’ll hear her father sharing anecdotes about Amy listening to Frank Sinatra as a child, and about how she crafted the passion and originality in her timeless debut album, Frank, at the age of 19. It makes you acknowledge that there won’t be another singer like this for a long time to come.

About this programme

Guy Garvey marks the first anniversary of the singer's death by exploring the roots of her music. He talks to her father Mitch about how she drew inspiration from jazz musicians including Sarah Vaughn, Thelonious Monk and Nina Simone, and discovers how 1960s girl groups such as the Shirelles and the Ronettes influenced the sound of her 2006 album Back to Black. The programme also features contributions by artists and musicians who inspired and worked with her.

Cast and crew

Cast

Presenter

Guy Garvey

Contributor

Mitch Winehouse

Crew

Producer

Des Shaw

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