Mark Ronson, Nas and Producer Salaam Remi will be named as patrons of the Amy Winehouse Foundation at the fourth annual Amy Winehouse Gala. The event will be held at The Savoy tomorrow, with Mark Ronson being invited as guest of honour.
Ronson, Nas and Remi worked with the singer before her death in 2011. Ronson produced Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black’ album, while Nas released the Remi produced 2012 song ‘Cherry Wine’, which featured posthumous vocals from the late singer.
Ronson was especially close with Winehouse and told The Gaurdian at the recent premier of biographical documentary ‘Amy’ that she was “one of the best lyricists of this generation”.
Speaking of his appointment as patron Ronson said “Becoming a patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation is a big deal to me.” He went on to say “It’s very important to help the great work that they are already doing, both with substance misuse and helping talented disadvantaged youth through music. Amy’s music touched so many and also helped them—and now through the Foundation, it continues to help people.”
Meanwhile Ella Henderson, Jess Glynne, Foxes, Vanessa Feltz and The Voice 2014 winner Jermaine Jackman will be named ambassadors for the Amy Winehouse Foundation.
“I’m delighted to be an ambassador for the Amy Winehouse Foundation. Amy was the main inspiration for me to pursue my personal dreams to be a singer and songwriter,” says Jess Glynn. Henderson also expressed her gratitude at being made Ambassador, saying “Through the Foundation, Amy continues to inspire even more people, so it’s a great honour to become an ambassador and help continue her legacy.”
The Amy Winehouse Foundation was set up September 2011 in memory of the singer. The charity aims to help vulnerable young people through music, and the Gala will host an auction to raise money for the charity.