Amy backs father for chart success (From South Wales Guardian)

Amy backs father for chart success

5:22pm Wednesday 26th May 2010 in National News © Press Association 2011

Mitch Winehouse said daughter Amy persuaded him to make a bid for the charts as he launched his music career.

The 59-year-old has recorded an album of jazz and swing classics, Rush Of Love, and showcased songs in London, although his troubled daughter was nowhere to be seen.

"Amy can't be here today because she's in business meetings. But without her help and encouragement, I wouldn't be here today," he said.

"Amy said to me five or six years ago, 'Why don't you make an album, Dad?' and we talked about it, and then she got ill. So when she got better, we spoke about it again. Of course she's heard the album. She thinks it's great."

The former cab driver has always harboured aspirations to be a singer.

"You thought I'm only doing this because I'm Amy's dad, but I think I've done OK. When I was growing up in my 20s and 30s, I always sang - I didn't have any preconceived ideas about being a singer," he said.

"I've done shows before, but it's becoming more serious now."

Winehouse hopes the album will be a success so he can do a follow-up.

"I just hope we'll be able to make another album, because it was such fun."

He is quick to deny he is cashing in on his Grammy award-winning daughter's reputation, saying: "You've got to look at this realistically. Realistically, I wouldn't have got this gig if I wasn't Amy's dad but equally, if I couldn't sing, I wouldn't bring out an album.