Amy Winehouse Statue Unveiling [PHOTO] Her Father Gets Emotional

With what would have been singer Amy Winehouse's 31^st birthday was an unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of the singer in North London. It has been three years after her untimely death.

Winehouse's father, Mitch Winehouse, was notably emotional at the event. "It's a day of incredibly mixed emotion," the father told the The Guardian. "They don't put statues up for people who are with us anymore, so it reinforces the fact that physically she's gone but spiritually she'll never leave us. I feel sad, very, very sad."

It was known within the industry and to fans that Winehouse struggled greatly with alcohol and drug dependencies, which in the end is what cost her her life on July 23, 2011. A report from the coroner concluded that her blood alcohol level was, 0.416% five times the legal drinking and driving limit. "The unintended consequences of such potentially fatal levels were her due to her sudden death."

Mitch Winehouse has been a strong activist since his daughter's passing. He started the Amy Winehouse foundation which has a mission of, "supporting and empowering children and young adults in need through music therapy and music education and works to prevent the effect of drug and alcohol misuse on young people," the mission statement reads on the Amy Winehouse Foundation website. "We aim to support, inform and inspire vulnerable and disadvantaged young people to help them reach their full potential."

The statue was created by sculptor Scott Eaton who told the BBC, the statue captured her "attitude and strength, but also give subtle hints of insecurity. The hand on the hip, the turn of the head, the grabbing of the skirt, the turned in foot these are all small elements that contribute to the personality of the piece," Eaton said.