AceShowbiz - Amy Winehouse's father Mitchell Winehouse has credited his daughter's new healthier lifestyle with allowing him to launch his own music career, because he would be too busy worrying about the "Back to Black" singer if she was still battling drug addiction. Mitch Winehouse is following in his famous child's footsteps with the release of his debut album "Rush of Love", a disc of jazz covers and a handful of original tracks.

The former taxi driver admits he has been working on the project for a few years, but never found the right opportunity to release it, until now. He tells Reuters, "Amy and I had been speaking about it for about five or six years and the timing wasn't right. She wasn't particularly well and now she's much better. You know, I couldn't have done this album if she was ill. I wouldn't have been able to put my heart and soul into it."

And Mitch is thankful for his daughter's help in landing him a record deal with Janey Records. He adds, "As far as I'm concerned, there was no other way into the industry for me, because, you know, I wasn't even a singer when I was younger."

"Rush of Love" was released last week. Grammy winner Amy Winehouse has reportedly overcome her drug problems in recent months following numerous stints in rehab and run-ins with the law.