African-American singer, Whitney Houston’s life was marked by success of cosmic proportions before her decline into abysmal depths. Nonetheless, she will remain one of the most memorable figures in the world’s recent history.
Whitney Houston spoke enthusiastically about her latest project Sparkle, a motion picture that was inspired by the legendary 1960s-group The Supremes (out in 2012).
A day before her death, Whitney had luxuriated in the swimming-pool at the California hotel where she was staying with some friends. February 11, Whitney Houston passed away in her bathtub.
Saving All My Love For You
This album marked Clive Davis’ protégé’s entry into the American entertainment scene. Daughter to Cissy Houston, a famous sixties choir singer, and a cousin of Dionne Warwick, Whitney brought a breath of fresh air to America at only 22.
Despite being shy and introverted in real life, Whitney was completely different on stage. Her second album, Whitney from 1987, proved that she was here to stay. And her single, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, moved right to top the charts almost immediately after release.
I Will Always Love You.
In 1992 Whitney took a giant step onto the big screen, where she was featured in the film The Bodyguard, alongside Hollywood-heartthrob Kevin Costner. While the movie’s success was phenomenal it was nowhere close to the success of its soundtrack, which sold more than 44m copies world-wide.
A success that turned American country queen and the song’s original recording artist, Dolly Parton, into a has-been. Henceforth, Whitney had become The Voice. On stage she was a diva without extravagant dresses or any wild choreographies, alone with her towel and her strong vocal chords.
“Bobby is my drug”.
While her career looked flawless, her private life became a cause for concern. In 1992 America’s “little princess” got married to Bobby Brown, former lead singer of New Edition. And then that angelic voice began its downward decline.
Around the same time she announced on the Oprah Winfrey Show that Bobby made her feel like a real woman. Cocaine, crack and alcohol. In 14 years of marriage the singer with the big voice had spent more time in hospitals and police stations, as a result of having been assaulted and injured, than in a recording studio.
I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.
2009 will be the year of her long awaited comeback. Divorced and out of detox, Whitney Houston hits the top of the charts again, with the hit-single I Look To You, produced by R. Kelly. But, she is no longer able to last more than 2 hours on stage.
The Voice is broken, but she’s more optimistic than ever, which is evident from I Didn’t Know My Own Strength. Three years later in Newark, where Whitney Houston saw the light of day for the first time in 1963, her fans sang Why Does It Hurt So Bad?
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