Amy Winehouse's father has expressed sorrow over the death of singer Whitney Houston.

The star was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel room on Saturday, after years spent battling a crack cocaine addiction.

The singer, who won six Grammy awards during her career, was 48.

Mitch Winehouse, writing on Twitter about the star, said: "Amy, Etta, Whitney. Their music will NEVER die. What a great girl group in heaven."

His tribute came as he and his former wife Janis accepted a posthumous Grammy award given to their daughter.

Tony Bennett won an award for best pop performance for his duet with Amy Winehouse, released after her death at the age of 27 last July.

"We shouldn't be here. Our darling daughter should be here," said Mr Winehouse.

Whitney Houston's contribution to music was also marked in Israel, where members of the Black Hebrew community mourned the loss of their "spiritual daughter."

The Negev-based community, which is famously vegan and polygamist, was visited by the singer in 2003.

Ms Houston and her then-husband, Bobby Brown, stayed in the Queen of Sheba hotel in Eilat. The hotel later named a suite after her.

"This wonderful country…looks much different than what is seen on international TV," she said at the time.