As some of you may or may not know, I was casually singing an Amy Winehouse song in the car one day with a co-worker when she turned to me and said, “Hey, you’re pretty good. You should meet a friend of mine who is looking to put together a band.” Since that moment 4 years ago, my life has changed drastically. Music has completely consumed me, and I can’t imagine not having this outlet as a part of my every day. I perform in various bands every week, and whether it is with my soul/funk band “The Sol Syndicate” or my blues/jazz trio “Davi & The PSA,” I perform at least one Amy Winehouse song in the set. Many people ask, “Why Amy Winehouse? What makes her one of your favorites?”
Besides this extremely defining moment for me 4 years ago, the list of “why” is almost never-ending. Every day I learn something new that reminds me of the impact Amy has had and will continue to have in music.
Her lyrical style remains unmatched. She spoke from deep, dark experiences that were all somewhat relatable. In 2008, her song that I covered in Philadelphia, “Love is a Losing Game” won the Ivor Novello Award for “Best Song Musically and Lyrically.” During a TedTalk, Mark Ronson reflects on the making of Back to Black and said, “ without the 21st century personality and firebrand that was Amy Winehouse and her lyrics about rehab and Roger Moore, and even her mention of Slick Rick, the whole thing would have ran the risk of being very pastiche.”
Her vocal style was unique in that she had the fundamental influences of Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn, but an affinity for the girl groups of the 60’s, hip-hop, R&B, and rock. From the beehive that towered above her head to the cat eye that reached across her temple, Amy was iconic.
Join me in celebrating the life and legacy of this amazing creator on what would have been her 37th birthday, September 14th, at The Jack London Revue for a tribute to the one and only, Amy Winehouse.
View the event page here: http://davi-music.com/amy-winehouse-tribute/
Get your tickets here: Amy Winehouse Tribute