Winehouse fans mark anniversary of her death

By Lorena Blas, USA TODAY

Posted July 23, 2012

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Young fans of British singer songwriter Amy Winehouse light candles for her outside her house in London today, the first anniversary of her death. (Credit: By Sang Tan, AP)

Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London home a year ago today.

Fans are paying tribute outside her home with notes, flowers and candles. Her father, Mitch Winehouse, told the Associated Press last week that family and friends will mark the anniversary by going to Amy's house for Jewish prayer and to be with the singer's fans. Then close friends will head to a party at Jazz After Dark, which was "Amy's favorite jazz bar."

He told AP, "There are going to be lots of tears and lots of laughter and that is exactly how Amy would have wanted it."

He takes some comfort in knowing that the charitable trust in her name, the Amy Winehouse Foundation, is making an impact after the sudden death of his 27-year-old daughter.

According to the AP, the Winehouse family has raised more than $1 million and has assisted various charities in the U.K. In the USA, the group is working with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra to develop "after-school music club houses" and feed hungry children throughout Louisiana.

Money has come from donations and the release of the posthumous album Lioness: Hidden Treasures and a book by Mitch Winehouse titled Amy, My Daughter, released this summer, reports the AP.

The first annual Amy Winehouse Inspiration Awards and Gala will take place Oct. 11 in New York and will honor Remi and Tony Bennett, with whom Amy Winehouse won a Grammy with this year, AP adds.