Mitch Winehouse Remembers Amy Winehouse, Launches Foundation To Help Young People

Wednesday would have been soul singer Amy Winehouse’s 28th birthday.

Tragically, the gifted singer’s life was cut short on July 23, 2011, when she passed away at her London home.

Now, her father, Mitch Winehouse, is speaking out, telling Access Hollywood how he plans to honor and celebrate his baby girl’s birthday.

“We’ll just spend the day together like we always do,” Mitch told Access on Wednesday. “And it’s going to be difficult. She’s going to be there, but there isn’t going to be any kisses and cuddles like there always is. So, you know, we’ll get through it.”

Mitch was struggling to keep his emotions in check on Amy’s special day, but he’s also proud to honor his daughter, by launching the Amy Winehouse Foundation (www.amywinehousefoundation.co.uk) to help other families and young people with mental health, financial or drug abuse issues.

“The idea of the foundation is to help disadvantaged kids in the UK and abroad and in the U.S. at the moment, children with disadvantages in their health,” Mitch explained.

The memories of his daughter – like in 2008, when Amy won five Grammys, including the coveted Record of the Year for her song, “Rehab” — are helping Mitch and his family cope.

“There’s pictures and film of us leaping on the stage, she’s like — she’s gobsmacked,” Mitch said, using the British slang for being very surprised. “And we’re cuddling each other and we’re all jumping. [There are] some fantastic photographs — Amy cuddling her Mum. [They are] just beautiful, just a beautiful memory. And she said to me, ‘Dad, can you believe it? Tony Bennett said my name! He said my name!’”

Tony and Amy later did a duet together, “Body and Soul,” which also debuts today. The song was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London in March and appears on Tony’s new album, “Duets II,” due out on September 20.

“I haven’t seen it, honestly,” Mitch said of the video for the song. “I can’t bring myself to see it. At some point, I’m going to watch it. But I’m finding it very difficult, at the moment.”