Encouraging The Induction of Amy Jade Winehouse Into The Hollywood Walkway of Fame

This page is designed to explore efforts to encourage the Walkway of Fame Committee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to waive the ‘five-year rule’ in regards to posthumous inductions and to proceed with a decision in favor of an accelerated Amy Jade Winehouse induction.

A Child’s Dream of Stardom

When 13-year old Amy Jade Winehouse was preparing to matriculate at London’s Sylvia Young Theatre School, she wrote a note to the headmistress and revealed her hopes, goals, and wishes regarding her future. The note was archived and reads:

I want to go somewhere where I’m stretched right to my limits, and perhaps beyond to singing lessons without being told to shut up. But mostly I have this dream to be very famous. To work on stage. It’s my lifelong ambition. I want people to hear my voice and just forget their troubles for five minutes. I want to be remembered for being an actress, a singer, for the sell-out concerts, sell-out West-end and Broadway shows, and for being just … me.

A Prestigious Star For A Humble SuperStar

It is the fixed position of those who love AJW that they have cried rivers of tears into choppy seas at her exit and that only when each of those tears is recovered and returned to them, will they cease their adoring affection for the JadeMermaid Princess. 

That passionate and powerful resolve is now being slowly translated into grassroots efforts aimed at respectfully encouraging the Walkway of Fame Committee at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to waive its ‘five-year rule’ governing posthumous inductions and to more rapidly decide to convey upon AJW the supremely prestigious terrazzo and brass Star on the globe’s most famous entertainment walkway.

The primary impediment to the success of any high-profile campaign to achieve the goal of the Amyites is that the Committee is rightfully impervious to overt influences from outside of its counsel. Public relations pressure, petition drives, and other conventional lobbying efforts simply do not work. The Committee makes its own decisions, for its reasons, in its own time.

To help move the issue in the direction of simply ‘offering encouragement’ to the prospects of a favorable Committee decision, some AJW supporters are now preparing to ask radio personalities for a little help. The fans will be requesting that when disc jockeys in selected markets spin an AJW tune, they simply make the comment, “It would be nice if Amy had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.” 

People close to the efforts are under no illusions about their chances of obtaining an early or easy resolution to the matter. A lead volunteer blogger at the AAN Page Network, Hank Miller said, “We are mindful of the traditional restrictions on lobbying in these matters and we have the greatest respect for the Committee and the important work they do in safeguarding the integrity of what is among the most prestigious honors that any entertainer can receive.” 

Miller further noted, “We simply want AJW’s fans to understand that awareness-building efforts are continuing and that we are hoping for an eventual positive outcome. As we proceed, fans should realize the degree of difficulty that we face and should always make respect for both the induction process and the sensibilities of the Committee their primary concern.”

The Case For AJW’s Induction

A simple review of an abstract overview of AJW’s iconic connection to the Walkway, her many awards for artistic achievement, and her outstanding record of service to charitable causes removes any doubts about the merits of the future induction of Amy Jade Winehouse into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

An Eternal Connection To The Walkway

In May of 2007, AJW established an iconic kinship with the famous path when she filmed the video for her hit song, Tears Dry On Their Own. Estimates are that many more than 100-million worldwide viewers have now seen the video in numerous venues; many have come to connect AJW with the historic location. Over time, such valuable video impressions help to create top-of-mind awareness among worldwide tourists contemplating a Hollywood vacation.

The Career Achievement Awards

Only the major wins are listed here. The full list of prestigious nominations is longer.

2004: Ivor Novello Award – Best Contemporary Song Musically & Lyrically

2007: BRIT Award – Best Female Solo Artist; Elle Style Award – Best British Music Act; Ivor Novello Award – Best Contemporary Song; MOBO Award – Best UK Female Artist; MOJO Award – Song Of The Year; MTV Europe Music Award – Artist’s Choice Award; Popjustice £20 Music Prize – Best British Pop Single; Q Award – Best Album; Vodafone Live Music Award – Best Female Artist.

2008: Grammy Award – Best New Artist; Grammy Award – Best Pop Vocal Album; Grammy Award – Record Of The Year; Grammy Award – Song Of The Year; Grammy Award – Best Female Pop Vocal Performance; Ivor Novello Award – Best Song Musically & Lyrically; Meteor Music Award – Best International Female Artist; Urban Music Award – Best Neo-Soul Act; World Music Award – Best Selling Pop/Rock Female Artist.

2009: Echo Music Awards – Best Rock/Pop International Female Artist; Echo Music Awards – Album Of The Year.

2012: Grammy Award – Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group.

The Silent Philanthropy

While few members of the public were ever made aware of the fact, AJW was known in the arts industry and the charity community as being among the most generous entertainers on the planet. Popworld repeatedly noted her as ‘The Most Charitable Act.’ When AJW was asked to serve a worthwhile cause, her routine response was, “Yes, Yes, Yes.” A few of the many causes she very generously supported include:

21st Century Leaders; Adopt-A-Minefield; Anti-Slavery International; BID 2 BEAT AIDS; Breast Cancer Campaign; CARE; Children of the Andes; Children’s Medical Research Institute; Christian Children’s Fund; City at Peace; Comic Relief; Dreams Can Be Foundation; Great Ormond Street Hospital; Greenpeace; Healthlink Worldwide; Hear The World; Heifer International; Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen; Red Cross; LIFEbeat; LifeLine & Rape Crisis PMB; Opportunity International; Oxfam; ROTA; Rights and Humanity; S.A.F.E.; Save the Children; Save The Music Foundation; Sharon Osborne Colon Cancer Program; Snoop Youth Football League; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Teenage Cancer Trust; The BRIT Trust; Christina Noble Children’s Foundation; Little Dreams Foundation; Lotus Outreach; Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund; Toothfairy Foundation; Trade Plus Aid; UNHCR; UNICEF; V-Day; WaterAid; World Neighbors.

Today, in her absence, AJW’s philanthropic juggernaut steams forward via the Amy Winehouse Foundation. The AWF supports charitable activities in both the UK and abroad that provide help, support, or care for young people; especially those in need due to ill health, disability, financial disadvantage, or addiction.

The Next Chapter

Among some experienced observers, the consensus is that the question is ‘when not if’ AJW’s fans will be able to have their pictures taken standing astride her Star. Thus, at this point, the issue seems to remain the Committee’s desire and ability to waive the ‘five-year rule.’ The body has the authority or can obtain it, to issue special dispensation in the matter. 

Understandably, fans want the rule dispensed with, which, on its face, seems a not unreasonable notion. Equally reasonable is the possible consideration by the Committee that such a waiver could establish a precedent that, for now, unforeseeable reasons, might present future challenges to the Committee’s work. Fans appear comfortable that the Committee is acting in good faith in the matter; there is no sense to the contrary in any quarter, and patience remains the watchword in fanville.

Financial elements appear not to be a factor in the matter. It is presumed that the necessary funds would be immediately available to meet the inductee’s obligation to cover the costs of the honor; now estimated to be in the $50K range. In the instant circumstance, relevant recording companies would likely fund the project. 

Fans wishing to enlist their local record spinners in the nudging game will soon be contacting their radio stations and asking their fave guys to lend a hand by simply delivering the phrase, “It would be nice if Amy had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” each time they play an AJW song.

If evidence of serious and polite grassroots support were to become widely visible, it is conceivable that the Committee would take the same into account as they work toward their decision. An induction during September 2013 would be a major treat for fans; and, of course, earlier would be nice, too.