Margaux Fragoso Hopes New Winehouse Memoir Will Shed Light on Tragic Singer's Psyche

Amy Winehouse's father has published a memoir that many of her fans, including author Margaux Fragoso, hope will reveal a bit more about her life behind the frenzy of stardom.

New York, New York (I-Newswire) July 11, 2012 - Amy Winehouse was a talented vocalist who passed away at the young age of 27. Many of her fans have helped keep her memory alive by continuing to support her music. Her father, Mitch Winehouse, is taking this effort one step further through his memoir. Titled Amy, My Daughter, this publication details the obstacles that the singer faced pertaining to her drug use. Margaux Fragoso, noted author of the literary memoir Tiger, Tiger, hopes that this publication will provide a more thorough understanding of Amy Winehouse's life.

Washington Post reports that Mitch Winehouse largely blames his daughter's ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, for her addiction—which led to her death. The article asserts that "he could never understand why she was so in love with Fielder-Civil, a music industry hanger-on. The book details his numerous run-ins with Fielder-Civil and his family."

For this reason, claims the article, Mitch Winehouse prefers his daughter's older album over her breakthrough record, "Back to Black." Largely written about Fielder-Civil, the album sold over 20 million copies internationally. It also landed Winehouse a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2008.

But fans of the singer are hoping for a bit more than a retelling of the stories the tabloids have already run.

"I have a 'Forever 27' poster on my office wall honoring the musicians I love and who have burned out too fast: Cobain, Morrison, Hendrix, Joplin, and so on," notes Margaux Fragoso. "When I found out the news about Amy Winehouse, whose phenomenal talent did not save her from a premature death, I was filled with regret and sympathy as I know all too well that these tragedies are unnecessary. Troubled artists need support from media outlets, not to be turned into objects of scorn and spectacle. I am hoping that Winehouse's father's memoir will offer its readers a glimpse of the authentic woman behind the media circus."

Based on the report by the Washington Post, Margaux Fragoso may get her wish. In the article, the publication cites Mitch Winehouse's characterization of his daughter, who suffered from stage fright. It may prove to be a much more personal glimpse into the singer’s uniqueness as well as her demons: "Long before Amy was an addict, no one could tell her what to do. Once she became an addict, her stubbornness just got worse. There were times when she wanted to be clean, but the times when she didn't outnumber them."

ABOUT:

Margaux Fragoso is the author of Tiger, Tiger, an acclaimed memoir. Additionally, Margaux Fragoso has published numerous short stories, poems, and articles. Her poems, short stories, and essays have been published in print and online by The Literary Review, Margie, NPR and others. Margaux Fragoso holds a Ph.D. and MA from SUNY Binghamton and a BA from New Jersey City University. . She is currently writing her next book while raising a young daughter.