We will always love you, WHITNEY!

 

Just a little over a year ago, on the eve of the biggest and most anticipated music awards ceremony – The Grammy Awards, the world was stunned to learn that Whitney Houston had died. The news sent shocking waves and dominated the headlines around the world. It is with a heavy heart that I write this report. Everyone who is close to me knows how much I love Whitney. I literally grew on her music, which was influenced of course by the constant presence of her music in our home. My mother used to play her music whilst doing the chores around the house and would sing along. Her favourite track was the duet Whitney made with Teddy Pendergrass – Hold me.

Born on the 09 August 1963, in the state of New Jersey, Whitney began her musical career in church. She was only 19 years old when music legend Clive Davis discovered the unique talent that made her so special. He wasted no time and arranged for Whitney to appear on the Merv Griffin show. This appearance would catapult Whitney into stardom and was a clever move to introduce her to the world. Whitney sang “Home” – a heartfelt performance which left no doubt of her impeccable vocal ability.

Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 . This kind of success and honour only belonged to greats such as The Beatles and Elvis Pressley before. The first 3 albums were a huge success. The debut album was self titled “Whitney Houston”, followed by “Whitney” and then “I am your baby tonight”. Whitney dominated the pop music world, with her incredible voice and dynamic stage performances. However she was not done. In 1993 Whitney starred alongside Kevin Costner in a motion picture “The Bodyguard”. The movie and the soundtrack were a huge success, probably elevating Whitney to the peak of her career. She later married bad boy Bobby Brown and they had daughter Bobbi Kristina. She subsequently starred in other movies, Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher’s Wife. Her duet with Mariah Carey from the animated movie, “The Prince of Egypt” earned both these megastars an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The movie, Sparkle, would be the last movie she would make.

At the dawn of the new democracy in South Africa in November 1994, Whitney became one of the first major superstars to visit the country. The tour was called Whitney – the concert for the new South Africa. She met the former State President Nelson Mandela. Proceeds from the shows were all donated to carefully selected local children charities, including the Nelson Mandela Children’s fund.

 

Whitney struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, an addiction that would ultimately take away her life. In a tell-all interview with Oprah, after her divorce from Bobby Brown, Whitney was honest enough to admit she can never say that she has kicked her habit entirely and that she was taking each day as it comes. I find these unfortunate circumstances are almost irrelevant considering what she gave the world. The Voice – as she was known had been nominated 26 times and won 6 Grammy Awards. The song One Moment In Time became the official soundtrack for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the Superbowl was epic. It is one of those performances that should be put into a time capsule.

She may be gone but Whitney’s legacy will live on. Her voice tugged at the heartstrings of all her fans. She was a music DIVA, a legend in her own right, and certainly one of a kind and there will never be anyone like her.