This year, the music industry lost one of the history’s greatest who has ever held a microphone and graced the stage with encore performances. Whitney Houston was more than just a singer; in her walk through life she has been a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend and even more so, she has been considered close family. No one can truly understand the reasons why those who seem to have it all, still seem to be searching in life for something more. Whitney Elizabeth Houston was no different. Her rise and fall- then rise again only led to a tragic ending and beginning of a void in history that only she could fill.
“God gave me a voice to sing with, and when you have that, what other gimmick is there?" –Whitney Houston
Whitney quickly moved from fashion model, to professional singer to find herself on her way to the top of the Billboard Charts. She appeared on the covers on Seventeen and Glamour magazines before becoming a major recording artist. Whitney's singing career began in the local gospel choir but she moved on to back-up singing with the likes of Lou Rawls and Chaka Khan, when she also worked as a model. She hadn’t walked too far away from her mother, Cissy’s footsteps, who was one of the back-up vocalists for Elvis Presley and a host of other performing artists in that era. Her time in the spotlight had begun. Whitney tried her luck at becoming an actress and almost received the role of Sondra Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" (1984); but the role went to Sabrina Le Beauf, whose theater experience was more profound.
At the age of 18, Whitney was signed to record label Arista Records, with whom she produced the album, 'Whitney Houston' with 'Saving All My Love for You' earning her a Grammy Award. On to her second album, titled 'Whitney', which was the first album by a woman to enter at number one on the charts. Its first four singles all made #1 in the Billboard chart. Multi-Grammy award winning singer; has had an unequaled run of seven consecutive #1 records (1980s) in the USA, and held the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 for 14 weeks with "I Will Always Love You" in 1993. Whitney Houston was a female, African American singer and actress whose first four albums, released between 1985 and 1992, and had amassed global sales in excess of 86 million copies. Whitney had made her own path, exceeding expectations and being crowned the only artist that holds the record for winning the most American Music Awards, twenty-six in total. During which, she still had time to drop by and be declared by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world.
Whitney was not done showcasing the talent she as blessed with, and she stated her reign in fame with a powerful acting debut in the film 'The Bodyguard' and the biggest hit of her career, the theme song, 'I Will Always Love You'. The single stayed 10 weeks at the top of the UK charts and the soundtrack album sold over 37 million copies. During the year of 1992, Whitney married Boddy Brown, former New Edition member at the time. They wed on 18 July 1992 and Houston gave birth to her only child Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown on 4 March 1993. During this time, Houston focused on her acting, appearing in 'Waiting to Exhale' in 1995 as the lead character - a TV producer in love with a married man. It opened at number one and grossed $87 million worldwide, while the cast were given positive reviews as an ensemble. The coinciding soundtrack for the film also reached #1. In 1996, Houston starred in 'The Preacher's Wife' with Denzel Washington. She earned $10 million for her role, making her one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood at the time and the highest earning African-American actress of the period.
During the early 2000’s, Whitney Houston’s life became a big blur and a open case for the tabloids to attack. Every chance that was given to place Whitney’s face amidst drugs abuse, mental and emotional issues, family dysfunction and humiliation- it was taken during this time. Any attempts to make a comeback seemed almost impossible. In 2006, Houston began to rebuild her career in the public eye by attending the Carousel of Hope Ball in October 2006 and Clive Davis's Pre-Grammy Party in February 2007. She recorded the song "Family First" with Dionne Warwick and her mother, Cissy Houston for the soundtrack 'Daddy's Little Girls'. During this time, Houston had also divorced Bobby Brown and gained full parental custody of their daughter, Bobbi Kristina and began work on a new album. After almost a decade of turmoil, the singer returned to the studio and released her comeback album, 'I Look To You', in 2009. It shot to the top of the charts, giving Houston her first number one album since 'The Bodyguard'
In 2010, the singer began a world tour - her first in more than ten years. However, Houston's sometimes shaky performances led to some negative reviews, with reports of fans walking out of some concerts. She was also forced to pull out of some appearances due to illness. It was widely reported in May 2011 that Houston had returned to rehab for drug and alcohol treatment. A representative for the star said she entered the program voluntarily as part of her "long-standing recovery process". Whitney said that she was “cleansing herself”. She had a plan, and in September 2011, the Hollywood Reporter revealed that Houston would produce and star in a remake of the 1976 film 'Sparkle'. She first obtained the rights to the film in 2001.
Houston died in Los Angeles on the eve of the Grammy Awards on 11 February 2012. She was found dead in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Cause of death has been revealed as accidental drowning with heart disease and drug abuse playing their part. Her funeral was held at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, February 18, 2012. Following services, she was laid to rest beside her father at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey.
Whitney left so much of herself behind, in the eyes of her friends and family. No matter what, she will always be known for these things mentioned and more. We have yet to experience the peace that was felt through her music from any other performance artist in their own right. She is, was and will always be a rare jewel.
Whitney has a school named after her (1997) formerly Franklin School, now the Whitney E. Houston School of Creative and Performing Arts in her hometown of East Orange, New Jersey.
“I almost wish I could be more exciting, that I could match what is happening out there to me.” –Whitney Houston
### Contacting Kandayia Ali, writer of “The Urban Arts Heads-Up” Reviews: Email: UrbanArts3000@gmail.com Phone: 305-771-4779 Twitter: @JagudEye
