Winehouse's father details addiction in memoir

The father of late British singer Amy Winehouse details his daughter's cycle of drug and alcohol abuse in a new memoir due on bookshelves Tuesday in the United States.

Mitch Winehouse's "Amy, My Daughter" includes "exclusive, never-before-seen photos and paints an open and honest portrait of one of the greatest musical talents of our time," said publisher HarperCollins.

The US book launch comes ahead of its July 5 publication in Britain, where the "Back to Black" star was found dead at her north London flat in July 2011. Investigators said Winehouse, 27, had died of alcohol poisoning.

In the 320-page biography, Mitch Winehouse "offers an inside view of Amy's life as she lived it, putting to rest once and for all the controversies that have long surrounded her," said HarperCollins.

It said the elder Winehouse was the soul singer's "closest adviser, her inspiration and best friend," and promised an "intimate and tender account" in the memoir.

"He describes the realities of her dependencies and the toll they took on the family and friends who refused to give up on her," HarperCollins added.

The memoir will also include previously unpublished photographs of the soul diva whose sudden death came as a tragedy for millions of fans.

"There's so much to take away from it -- to let people know what a wonderful girl she was, a normal girl and how addiction can afflict any family as loving as ours," Mitch Winehouse told MSNBC television's website last month.

"My family is the most loving family. Addiction can affect all families and the important thing is to let parents know not to feel guilt."

A former taxi driver, Mitch Winehouse is a jazz singer. He created the Amy Winehouse Foundation after his daughter's death to help young people in need, due to ill health, disability, financial disadvantage or addiction.

He has said all book sale proceeds will go toward the foundation.

AFP