As the soul singer who was constantly making headlines with her erratic behavior of alcohol and drug abuse, Amy Winehouse was found dead in her home in London. Causes of her death are still unknown. Winehouse has joined the immortal ranks with a prestigious group of legends, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and Brian Jones. Oddly, all of these musicians’ deaths were shocking, untimely, and not necessarily surprising.

Brian Jones, the founder of the rock group, the Rolling Stones, drowned in a swimming pool on July 3, 1969. Jimi Hendrix, the charismatic and trendsetting rock guitar player died from complications of combining sleeping pills and wine—he choked on his own vomit; he died September 18, 1970. Not long after that, singer Janis Joplin of Big Brother and the Holding Company overdosed on heroin; her death occurred on October 4, 1970. Jim Morrison of the Doors died of alleged heart failure on July 3, 1971. Curt Cobain, founding member of Nirvana, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 5, 1994. And now Amy Winehouse has become the newest member of this club, July 23, 2011. These are not the only musicians who had untimely deaths at age 27, but their worldwide fame begged mentioning.

Amy Winehouse debuted her first album, Frank, in 2003. It achieved much success in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. She received six Grammy nominations for her second album, Back to Black. Winehouse won a Brit Award, and three Ivor Nouvello Awards. She was a favorite muse for fashion designers Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander McQueen, and more. Of all her hits, she is best known for the single “Rehab.” Winehouse’s distinctive, yet retro style is mimicked by young female soul singers today; and her short-lived career has made a huge impact deeming her another young legend.

Age 27 has become a phenomenon in the music industry. When we see a music icon spinning out of control, there is a tendency to reference Cobain, Hendrix, Joplin, or Morrison. One has to wonder if this club is a curse or a rite of passage for our entertainment deity? Like the other music status symbols who have been claimed, Amy Winehouse’s music will live on and she will forever be remembered as one who died too young.