Winehouse family, fans mourn death

LONDON — Amy Winehouse’s mother said the singer seemed unwell the day before she died, a British newspaper reported Sunday, while her family mourned the loss of “a wonderful daughter, sister, niece” and more tributes flowed from fans.

A mound of flowers, messages and handwritten notes grew Sunday outside of the north London home where ambulance crews found the singer dead Saturday.

The Sunday Mirror quoted Janis Winehouse as saying she believed it was “only a matter of time” before her daughter died. The 27-year-old singer had publicly struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for years.

Police said the cause of her death is being treated as “unexplained,” rejecting speculation that she died from a drug overdose as “inappropriate.” The circumstances surrounding her death are not yet clear, but police said a post-mortem is expected today or Tuesday.

Her spokesman, Chris Goodman, confirmed Sunday that a security guard had found her body and called ambulance services.

Winehouse had often made headlines because of drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, destructive relationships and abortive performances.

Singer Carole King, whose song “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” was covered by Winehouse, and others recalled her small, but powerful body of recorded music.

“I just really hope that she’s found peace now wherever she is,” King said.

No information about funeral or burial was immediately available.