Whitney Houston’s voice was one of the most beautiful ever. She emoted with a rare pureness; any love song was hers.
Her voice was stellar as it lingered. Her performance of a love song made you stand still and perhaps even shed a tear. She had the “WOW” factor.
She was rooted in the church with gospel music, like most Black singers. She was perfectly groomed by her mother Cissy, the choir director of her church for over 50 years; her godmother Aretha Franklin; and her cousin Dionne Warwick.
She had the best songbirds of an era nurturing her God-given talent. She exuded a natural modelesque beauty. She could act.
She was Clive Davis’ favorite protégé. In her career span, Whitney sold over 170 million records. She won six Grammys, two Emmys and 22 American Music Awards.
She was young, talented, wealthy, gifted, beautiful and Black. Her romance with Bobby Brown had its ups and downs, but it appeared to be a relationship of passion that produced a daughter. She had it all.
She had a perfect world, so it appeared.
Sadly, Whitney Houston cursed her own talent with drugs and alcohol addictions. Even after several rehabs, it was questionable as to whether or not she really won the drug war. And her once flawless voice suffered because of it.
She insulted her God-given talent.
In May of 2003, Prince Asiel Ben Israel of the Black Hebrew Israelites was on a mission. He was determined to rehabilitate Whitney by taking her to Israel for total absolute rehab. He succeeded with natural food and herbs.
However, when Whitney and Bobby returned to Atlanta, she resumed her old habits and Prince Asiel said to me, “We are going to lose her to drugs. She can’t help it.” He said, “She can come off the drugs, but she can’t stay off.”
We are all shocked at the early death of her at 48 years at the Beverly Hills Hilton, but we are not surprised.
She was on a comeback for the fourth or fifth time with her new, yet to be released movie, Sparkle, still scheduled for an August premiere.
Her public was pulling for her, waiting to hear that voice again.
Whitney died with historic pause, on the eve of the Grammy Awards pre-celebration event, as she prepared for the Clive Davis party. He never stopped believing in her. He was her musical godfather, her mentor, but most importantly, her real friend.
Whitney’s death begs for a look behind the scenes in the show business world. It can be a lonely place, as we’ve seen it claim the lives of many before.
What happens when the show is over?
Indeed a glamorous life, on the road, on the stage, in the media, applause, kudos and bravo, but what happens to you, especially a woman? Where is your home? Where do you live?
Like it or not, you are vulnerable. Even with a strong constitution, the traps exist. And sometimes, even the most talented of them all are really insecure people in their own skin and their only comfort is on stage.
This woman, Whitney Houston, gave us music that will live forever. My favorites, I’m Every Woman, The Greatest Love Of All, and I Will Always Love You, are classics.
Life appeared beautiful and she was on top of the world as she sang effortlessly, but the demons were there.
Her stylish beauty and exquisite taste were notable. But when you watched her in depth interviews with Diane Sawyer and the best interview of them all with Oprah Winfrey, you realized she was a troubled soul.
Viva Whitney.
View Whitney Houston’s obituary below.
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