And as her dad Mitch said to his nearest and dearest on Monday night — that’s exactly how his beloved Amy would have wanted it.
As I showed up at Jazz After Dark in Soho, one of her favourite venues, I half expected a sombre evening to mark 12 months since Amy’s tragic death.
But within seconds of crossing the threshold I had a kebab thrust into my hand and a beer not far behind it — I should have known better.
The Winehouse family, and the clan around them, are something special.
As I shook hands on my way through the room, juggling kebab and beer, it was surreal to think a year had passed since that tragic day.
This time last year I was embracing the same family members and wishing them well only days after her death.
I had joined the Grammy-winning star’s family at the funeral, then at Southgate synagogue in north London on a sunny July afternoon — just like the one we had on Monday — to pay my respects.
On both occasions I was taken aback by the incredible spirit and togetherness of her loved ones.
There were tears, plenty of “what ifs” and no shortage of “if onlies” — but the overall focus of each gathering was the celebration of the good Amy had brought to her family and her fans in 27 years on this planet.
As I made myself as comfortable as I could in the packed room, I immediately clocked all the Amy artwork hung up around the venue. The owner and artist, Sam Shaker, had known Amy for ten years and decorated the room for his old pal.
His pictures hung side-by-side with those by fans. Photocopies of her book were stuck to the bar, as were pictures by her favourite paparazzi, who some might be surprised to hear she called close pals.
Her brother Alex, who organised a golf day for Amy recently, greeted people as they arrived. He’s a quiet guy, much more like his mum Janis than his old man, and a real force behind the new Amy Winehouse Foundation.
Her boyfriend Reg Traviss, who had so much planned with the singer before she died, was in remarkably good spirits, despite a shocker of a year.
Looking around the room, her old touring family were all in residence. Her tour manager Curly Jobson, backing singer Zalon, best pal Tyler James and her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield were all there in force. Dionne, who Amy adored, was at the bar drinking juice and giggling with her pals.
I wasn’t the only one to remark how proud Amy would be to see how well she is doing for herself with the chart career she is carving out under the tutelage of her old manager Raye Cosbert. All the old north London characters Mitch hangs about with — and who Amy loved dearly — were up to their usual antics.
Jokes were told and they poked fun at Mitch mercilessly. Every time he went near the karaoke machine, laughter filled the muggy room and “Here we go” was muttered at just the right volume for him to hear. Mitch bowled over and gave me a hug, with strict orders to enjoy myself. He said thanks for supporting the Foundation — then told me I should have had a shave.
Over the last year we’ve spent a lot of time together, at the Grammys in LA and in New York in the weeks after Amy passed away.
I’ve seen the man at his lowest ebb, and also when he’s been on top form, with his mind distracted from the ordeal his family had been through over the years.
He’s a good bloke, and as he said in his speech, fiercely proud of the positives that have emerged from a deeply depressing situation. The Foundation has given Amy’s family a focus. Everyone in the room is fully committed to the cause — raising money for youngsters who need it most.
The only underlying disappointment on Monday night was that they hadn’t started the work when Amy was alive.
Mitch and the gang had time for everyone who turned up, especially the fans who came to pay their respects.
Janis, who fights a painful daily battle with MS, joined the party later — shrugging off her own hardships for a night in memory of her daughter.
It’s great to see how Mitch, Janis, her new husband Richard Collins, and Mitch’s wife Jane, all get on so well. It would have brought a tear to Amy’s eye to see how well they all looked and how they are all coping.
In October the Foundation is holding a black-tie dinner in New York, hosted by Tony Bennett. The good work of the Foundation will continue with a star-studded line-up of guests.
But if ever there was a picture of what made Amy the performer and personality she was, you need look no further than the 100 or so characters who raised a glass to her on Monday night.
Dionne's flowers for Amy
http://www.thesun.co...ty-in-Soho.html
