Whitney Elizabeth Houston, born on the 9th of August 1963 was an American singer and actress who ranked second in the list of the greatest singers of all times by Rolling Stone. She was also nicknamed ‘The Voice’ as she is one of the artists with best-selling music with over 200 million records sold worldwide.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Whitney Elizabeth Houston |
| Born | August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Died | Bobby Brown (m. 1992; Div. 2007) |
| Occupation | Singer, actress, producer |
| Genres | R&B, pop, soul, gospel |
| Years active | 1977–2012 |
| Labels | Arista, RCA |
| Children | August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Awards | 2 Emmy Awards, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among others |
| Notable songs | “I Will Always Love You,” “Greatest Love of All,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “How Will I Know,” among others |
| Notable films | The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale, The Preacher’s Wife, among others |
On August 9, 1963, Whitney Houston was born to parents Emily “Cissy” Houston and John Russell Houston Jr. in Newark, New Jersey. Her father was a city administrator and the manager of The Sweet Inspirations, and her mother was a Grammy-winning gospel singer. Whitney was brought up in a Baptist family and started singing in the church when she was five years old. She went to Franklin Elementary School before transferring to a Catholic school for only girls, where she eventually graduated in 1981. Whitney’s career started in 1978 when she provided backing vocals for her mother’s solo record. She eventually transitioned into the fashion industry. She turned down many record agreements in favor of completing her education.
Whitney Houston’s eponymous debut album was released on Valentine’s Day in 1985, produced by Michael Masser, Kashif, Jermaine Jackson, and Narada Michael Walden. The album’s lead single, “You Give Good Love,” established Houston in the black market in the US, where it became a hit. “Saving All My Love for You” was the next single, reaching number one in the US and UK. Houston’s videos were heavily played on BET and VH1 stations, and after some difficulty, they were also featured on MTV. Houston’s third US single, “How Will I Know,” was her second consecutive number-one pop hit. Houston’s debut album topped the Billboard 200 albums chart for 14 weeks.
The final single, “Greatest Love of All,” became her biggest hit, making her the first woman to have three number-one hits from a debut album. Houston won her first Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Saving All My Love for You,” and her performance of the song during the Grammy telecast earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.
Houston was linked romantically to Jermaine Jackson, Randall Cunningham, and Eddie Murphy in the 1980s. She later married R&B singer Bobby Brown in 1992 and gave birth to their daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, in 1993. Houston’s success continued with The Bodyguard World Tour, making her the third highest-earning female entertainer of 1993-94. In 1994, she performed at a state dinner in the White House honoring Nelson Mandela and later played three concerts in South Africa to honor him. Funds from the concerts were donated to various charities in South Africa.
The late Whitney Houston, nicknamed “The Voice,” was well-known for her tremendous singing voice and many accolades. Her drug usage and private life, however, cast a cloud on her achievements. She drowned accidentally in the Beverly Hills hotel room on February 11, 2012, the day before the Grammy Awards, and died as a result. Heart problems and cocaine addiction both contributed to her demise. Just 40 minutes before she passed away, Houston spoke with her mother on the phone. Her final performance in front of an audience had been two days before. The music industry was horrified by Houston’s passing, and her legacy continues to motivate supporters everywhere.
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