LONDON (Reuters) - An autopsy on British singer Amy Winehouse, who was found dead at the weekend, will be carried out Monday, police said, as her parents thanked well-wishers at a makeshift shrine outside the 27-year-old's north London home.
As record industry executives reported a surge in sales of the singer's music and speculation swirled about the release of a possible posthumous album, her father Mitch flew in from New York to visit the shrine.
Surrounded by television crews and well-wishers, he read the dozens of condolence messages and walked along banks of teddy bears, flowers -- and the occasional bottle of vodka -- left by fans of the troubled singer.
"Thank you for coming," he told the fans. "It means so much to me and my family."
Police have described the singer's death as "unexplained" but her battle with alcohol and drugs was well-documented, including in one of her best-known songs "Rehab," in which she sang, "They tried to make me go to rehab but I said no, no, no."
An inquest into her death will be opened and adjourned later Monday.
Winehouse slid from being a chirpy teenage singer from a north London Jewish family to someone who could barely walk at her final concert performance in Serbia.
She won critical acclaim after the release of her debut album "Frank" in 2003 before becoming a worldwide phenomenon with the success of "Back to Black."
The Sun newspaper said she was found dead in her bed at around 1500 GMT Saturday, some six hours after she had last phoned her management team.
Winehouse's death has sparked a surge in demand for her music.
British music retailer HMV predicted Monday that she would be number one next week as sales of Back to Black, which won five Grammys, continue to grow.
The company said many people had downloaded the album online but many would want to buy CDs to feel a "more tangible and closer connection with Amy."
"It's something that we tend to see when any great music legend or rock star passes," said HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Monday that material recorded before Winehouse's death could be released as a posthumous album, citing sources who said Winehouse had recorded "a lot of material" and that her parents would have the final say on whether a new album is to be released.
Winehouse's spokesman told Reuters there was currently no confirmation of the release of a third album. "I know there's material about, but no one's talked about it," he said.
Her recording company, Island Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group had no comment about the possibility of a posthumous album.
Monday morning, Universal Music Group had substituted their homepage at www.umusic.co.uk with a black and white image of the star.
Tributes to Winehouse from celebrities including Russell Brand, Lily Allen and Stephen Fry poured in from Twitter over the weekend.
British singer M.I.A and American rapper Big Boi both released songs dedicated to Winehouse.
M.I.A released a song entitled "27" online, which likely refers to the age at which Winehouse died and the "Forever 27" club of musicians who have passed away at that age, including Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin.
Big Boi, who forms part of the duo Outkast, uploaded a remix of Winehouse's hit "Tears Dry On Their Own" to his website, with the message "R.I.P Amy."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.