Amy Winehouse Diagnosed with Early Stage Emphysema

In an interview with the Daily Mirror published early Sunday, Amy Winehouse's father, Mitch said that Amy has early stage emphysema and is in danger of dying if she does not give up smoking crack cocaine and cigarettes. Her father further stated. "There are nodules around the chest and dark marks. She has 70 percent lung capacity." Her father has issued a plea to Amy's friends who take drugs to please stay away from her. He seems to feel that her only hope is to stay away from that crowd.

Winehouse collapsed in her North London home, after an autograph signing session. She was taken to London hospital where she remained for observation, the entire week. Amy Winehouse has seen her share of ups and down in recent months. She and her husband Blake Fielder-Civil have had several scrapes with the law. Add to that Amy's ongoing problems with alcohol and drug abuse. In an interview with World Entertainment News Network in 2007 she admitted that she has a tendency towards violence against Fielder-Civil when she has been drinking. "I'll beat up Blake when I'm drunk. I don't think I have ever bruised him, but I do have my way. If he says one thing I don't like then I'll chin him."

Winehouse's troubles have not been confined to substance abuse. She has exhibited erratic behavior that has been attributed to mental instability apart from her issues with drugs. Her increasingly haggard and ratty appearance has only helped to fuel the rumors of Winehouse's mental decline.

In spite of her troubles, Winehouse's music star has continued to rise, despite cancelled tour dates and stints in rehab and hospital. According to the Associated Press, she is still scheduled to perform at the 90^th birthday concert for Nelson Mandela, in London, as well as take part in the Glastonbury Music Festival, the next day. Mitch Winehouse believes that continuing to perform will be good for his daughter. The Mirror quoted him as saying, "When she's been inactive work-wise then that's when the problems really start. The doctors have said that medically there isn't any reason why she can't do Glastonbury."

Amy Winehouse was born in the Southgate section of Enfield, London. Her love of music has been life-long. At age 10 she formed a rap group, Sweet 'n Sour with her childhood friend Juliette Ashby. The group was modeled after Salt 'n Pepper, an American rap group, popular in the 90's. At age of eight she entered the Susi Earnshaw theater school before transferring to the Sylvia Young Theater School. However, Winehouse was expelled at the age of fourteen for getting her nose pierced and for what the school administration described as "not applying herself." After receiving a guitar for her 13^th birthday, Winehouse began writing songs a year later.

Winehouse began working shortly after she started writing. She was discovered when her boyfriend, at the time, British Soul singer Tyler James sent her demo to an A&R person he knew. This led to her signing with 19 Management. 19 is a name recognizable because of its ties to American Idol which was fashioned after Britain's Pop Idol, both of which were created by Fuller. Her association with 19 led to a publishing deal with EMI.

Shortly after signing, Winehouse and her producer, Mark Ronson were looking for a group that evoked the 60's Stax Records sound. Ronson had worked with a singer named Sharon Jones out of New York who performs on the Daptone label. Daptone is described by the New York Times as "an underground label so devoted to its pursuit of verisimilitude in 1960s-style soul and funk that it built a studio of vintage equipment and has released far more vinyl 45s than CDs". Jones band the Dap-Kings are described as the "most obsessive and skillful revivalists of the bunch." They were just what Ronson was looking for to complete Amy's signature sound. The Dap-Kings who had performed in relative obscurity were grateful for the exposure they garnered backing up Winehouse.

Her debut album Frank was released in 2003 to critical acclaim and netting Winehouse's voice comparison's to the likes of Sarah Vaughan and Macy Gray. It evidenced her jazz influences. It was not until her sophomore effort, when she met Mark Ronson and changed the focus of her sound to the girl groups of the 50' and 60's. In early 2006, Mark Ronson demoed several tracks from what would become Winehouse's tour de force Back to Black, on his radio show, East Village Radio. Back to Black included the hits "Rehab", "You Know I'm No Good" and "Love is a Losing Game".

In addition to her on chart climbing hits, Winehouse collaborated with a number of performers including Mark Ronson and ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena. All along the way Winehouse was racking up awards and accolades. At the 2008 Grammy's she won statuettes in the categories of 'Record of the Year', 'Song of the Year', and 'Best Female Pop Vocal Performance' for the single "Rehab". The album Back to Black nominated for 'Album of the Year' and won the 'Record of the Year' award. Mark Ronson, won "Producer of the Year" in the non-classical category.

Providing Winehouse is able to get and stay healthy, her future looks equally bright. Prince has proposed she fly to Minneapolis to collaborate on some future recordings. George Michael has written a song expressly for him and Winehouse to duet. Winehouse has also written music for the new James bond film, Quantum of Solace.

It seems a shame that all the promise of Amy Winehouse could be wiped out by a condition that is manageable. I have first had knowledge of Emphysema, as it is the disease my mother suffered from prior to her death. It falls into the category of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, along with Chronic Asthma. I am familiar with its progression. It is treatable with medication. It is paramount to Winehouse's recovery that she takes care of herself and stays away from anything that will further compromise her fragile state. My mother was a diabetic which meant her system was weakened from the outset. Unless Winehouse is able to overcome her demons, she has very little hope of overcoming this new diagnosis.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/29/arts/music/29jone.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Winehouse

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5itjO64MOY5zSRXGQET71vAk5Cw1QD91FR6PO1