The Great Singer - Whitney Houston

Whitney Elizabeth Houston, born on August 9, 1963, at Newark Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, was the daughter of Grammy-winning gospel and soul singer Emily "Cissy" Houston and former Army serviceman turned administrator John Russell Houston Jr. Her mother, a member of The Drinkard Singers and founder of The Sweet Inspirations, left an enduring impact on the music industry.

Houston's early years included singing at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark and modeling, becoming one of the first black women to grace the cover of Seventeen in 1981. Discovered by a photographer during a performance, she ventured into commercial jingles and recorded gospel music demos. Despite offers from labels like Elektra, her mother insisted she finish school.

In 1983, Gerry Griffith of Arista Records witnessed Houston's performance, leading to a worldwide record deal. Her debut album, "Whitney Houston" (1985), co-produced by Kashif, Jermaine Jackson, Michael Masser, and Narada Michael Walden, became a monumental success, spending over three years on the Billboard 200. Houston's impactful singles, including "Saving All My Love for You" and "Greatest Love of All," marked her as the first solo female artist with three number-one hits from one album.

The success continued with her second album, "Whitney" (1987), featuring hits like "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." Despite criticism for similarity to her debut, the album topped charts globally, solidifying Houston as the first woman to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.

"I'm Your Baby Tonight" (1990) brought more triumphs, with the title track and "All the Man That I Need" becoming number-one singles. In 1991, Houston delivered a historic performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV, garnering widespread acclaim.

Houston's philanthropy included a concert for soldiers during the Persian Gulf War, and she continued to excel with "My Name Is Not Susan" featuring a pioneering pop-hip-hop remix.

Despite her achievements, Houston faced criticism from some quarters for perceived compromises in her music. Her personal struggles and erratic behavior were evident before her tragic death on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48. The cause of death was determined as drowning and the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use." The music industry lost a legend, but Houston's impact on soulful ballads and powerful performances endures.

References;

1.  "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
2. "11 of Whitney Houston's Most Dazzling Beauty Looks". Vogue. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
3. Caramanica, Jon (February 12, 2012). "A Voice of Triumph, the Queen of Pain". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
4. Gill, Any (February 17, 2012). "Whitney Houston, the greatest voice of her generation". The Independent. Independent Print. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
5. "The Voice - Whitney's Talent Remembered". Sky News. February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
6. "The best-selling singles in history". Medium. March 7, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
7. Schrodt, Paul (May 25, 2016). "The 10 biggest record deals of all time, ranked". Insider. Retrieved July 29, 2021.