Amy Winehouse didn’t become a musical icon overnight. Long before the fame, awards, and unforgettable performances, she was just a young girl surrounded by music that shaped her into the artist the world would one day admire. According to her mother, Janis, there were five important albums from Amy’s childhood that played a huge role in building her unique sound.
Many people believed Amy only listened to old music from before 1967 because she liked to say so herself. But that wasn’t completely true. Her childhood playlist was actually a mix of jazz classics, pop icons, hip-hop legends, and 90s rock stars. Each one helped her grow into the powerful, emotional performer she became.
Jazz at Home: The First Influence
Amy grew up in a family that loved jazz. Her grandmother Cynthia and her father Mitchell listened to artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Thelonious Monk. Because of this, Amy heard jazz from the moment she was old enough to listen. This early exposure helped her understand emotion in music, something she was later known for.
Out of all the jazz artists she heard, Dinah Washington was the one who made the biggest impact. Her 1957 album The Swingin’ Miss D became one of Amy’s earliest and strongest influences.
Carole King’s Tapestry: Learning to Write Songs
Amy’s mother also influenced her musical taste. One of their favorite albums to listen to together was Carole King’s Tapestry. Janis says Amy looked up to King as one of the greatest songwriters ever. Listening to this album helped Amy realize the importance of storytelling in music and pushed her to learn how to express her own feelings through lyrics.
Pop Stars of the 80s and 90s
Growing up in the 80s and 90s meant Amy was also surrounded by pop music.
She loved Michael Jackson, especially his album Bad. The songs, the dancing, the style — everything about him inspired her. She admired his confidence and energy.
Another big part of her childhood was Salt-N-Pepa. Their album Very Necessary was so important to her that she and a friend used to create dance routines to their songs. Her mother said that hip-hop became a lasting influence on Amy’s music, which makes sense when you hear the rhythm and attitude in her own songs.
A Life-Changing Gift: Jagged Little Pill
When Amy was a teenager, her father gave her Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill for Christmas. This album changed everything. Amy became completely obsessed with it. She practiced the songs over and over, and when she performed “Ironic” at a school concert, the audience was stunned by her talent.
This album didn’t just influence her — it encouraged her to take music seriously.
A Mix That Created a Legend
Jazz, pop, hip-hop, singer-songwriters, and 90s rock — Amy took pieces from all of them. These five albums weren’t just childhood favorites. They built the musical foundation for one of the most unforgettable artists of our time.
Each influence, whether it came from her family, her childhood favorites, or a Christmas gift, helped shape the voice and soul of Amy Winehouse.