Black Music Month 2007

Transformers: Whitney Houston

No one has a story like Whitney Houston. From her lineage, which includes mother Cissy Houston and cousin Dionne Warwick, to her history making music success, the northern New Jersey native has left an indelible impression on the music world over the past twenty years. Her astounding successes coupled with some failures (marriage to Bobby Brown, dismal record sales, substance abuse and reality TV) makes her one of the most talked about celebrity notables of her era. Black Voices walks down memory lane with a look at the career and controversies of Whitney Houston.

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During her wonder years, Whitney, also known as Nippy to her close friends and family members, sang background with her mother Cissy, most notably on Chaka Khan's 1980 soul hit 'Papillion (a.k.a. Hot Butterfly).' Though she was nurtured in a thriving musical environment (pictured here with super-producer Narada Michael Walden and Aretha Franklin), her first real shot at the limelight was via modeling assignments. As a fashion model, she appeared in various advertisements, snagged the cover of 'Seventeen' magazine and did a Canada Dry commercial.

Though her first official recording was as a lead vocalist on song titled 'Life's A Party,' by the Michael Zager Band in 1977, she broke through with her 1985 self-titled debut album on Arista Records. Bolstered by masterfully produced ballads such as 'You Give Good Love to Me,' 'Saving All My Love for You' and a new-pop stylized remake of George Benson's signature song 'The Greatest Love of All,' the opus sold more than 20 million copies worldwide -- making it the best-selling female debut album in history.

Two years after the astounding success of her radio ready debut album, Arista Records released 'Whitney,' a more pop-friendly outing that sold more than ten million copies. Houston became an international music icon thanks to singles such as the hip and trendy, fast and friendly chart-toppers 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody,' 'So Emotional,' and 'Love will Save the Day.' At the 1998 American Music Awards ceremony, Whitney picked up the trophy for "Favorite Rock/Pop Female Artist." (The year before she swept the show winning four awards.) She became one of the few black mainstays on MTV.

Though her success seemed like a lightening rod, it was always validated by Whitney's polished and powerful vocal abilities -- making her known as "The Voice." Her prowess brought her "darling" status in International mainstream culture. In 1988 she recorded the theme song to the 1988 Olympics ('One Moment in Time') which was a top five single in the U.S. and hit No. 1 in Europe. Long before Hollywood came calling, high-powered Madison Avenue advertisers took notice of Whitney. She became a spokesperson for Pepsi Cola long before it became in vogue to do so. She also hawked blue chip brands such as AT&T.

With the fame and fortune of two mega successful albums under her belt came the not-so-nice things about celebrity. Whitney, who was an international superstar, experienced her fear of gossip and innuendo by the time she released her third project, 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' in 1990. Rumors of lesbianism followed the music icon throughout her various professional pursuits. The slickly-crafted opus featured collaborations with heavy-hitters Stevie Wonder, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Kenny G, BeBe and CeCe Winans, and Walter Afanasieff but failed to win over critics. It peaked at No. 3 on the 'Billboard' Top 200 Albums chart. With eight million units sold worldwide, the album didn't sell as many copies as her previous efforts. While 'Rolling Stone' called it her "best and most integrated album," a reader's poll for the magazine voted her supporting jaunt "the worst tour of the year."

According to legend, Whitney first met Bobby Brown at the Soul Train Music Awards April 28, 1989. At the time, the former New Edition crooner was a huge R&B star and a crossover music star -- due to his infectious signature track 'My Prerogative.' Initially the two seemed like an unlikely pair; with Whitney living a privileged life and coming from music royalty and Bobby being a bad boy from the Boston ghettos. They married in a lavish ceremony July 18, 1992 on the grounds of her Mendham, New Jersey estate. 800 people reportedly attended the wedding. March 4, 1993 saw the birth of the couple's first and only child (together), daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown. In 1994, she told 'Essence' magazine "Before I met my husband, I always got that how-can-I-show-her-that-I'm-worthy-to-be-with-her? attitude. When I met Bobby, it was simple. Bobby knew what I needed was love."

Before and after her marriage to Bobby Brown, and the subsequent birth of Bobby Kristina, Whitney worked on the film 'The Bodyguard.' Originally set up as an interracial vehicle pairing Diana Ross and Warren Beatty, the newly revamped film starred Whitney alongside Kevin Costner. Perfect chemistry and a sizzling soundtrack turned the 1992 movie into a box office monster. The Mick Jackson-directed film grossed more than $121 million in the U.S. and $410 million worldwide. It represented a striking debut for Houston, who garnered mixed reviews and two Razzie Award nominations. The soundtrack's lead single, 'I Will Always Love You,' -- a Dolly Parton composition -- is considered the best-selling single by a female artist, and the biggest-selling non-charity single of all time, with world sales of nearly nine million copies. The 17-times platinum project netted 11 Billboard Awards, eight American Music Awards and three Grammys.

Music industry titan Clive Davis proved be more of a genius when he paired his biggest ingénue up with the on-the-rise singer, songwriter and producer known simply as Babyface. Legally known as Kenneth Brian Edmonds, the Indianapolis native first worked with Whitney on the spunky track 'My Name is Not Susan,' from her 1990 auspicious third album. At the time he was known as a promising R&B vocalist, formerly of The Deele, and an in-demand songwriter and producer. This pre-dated him co-founding LaFace Records in Atlanta (with Antonio "L.A." Reid), and way before his countless pop music hits. Albums and singles he's worked on have amassed sales that exceed 100 million units. Whitney, alone, makes up about half of that -- statistically. Along the way, Edmonds has garnered countless accolades, winning 10 Grammy Awards including Producer of the Year for a history-making three years in a row (1995, '96, '97), which still stands as a Grammy record.

Although she reportedly lost out on a role in the legendary sitcom 'The Cosby Show,' a decade earlier, Hollywood couldn't deny Whitney's uncontrollable hold over the box office with the gargantuan success of 'The Bodyguard.' In her 1995 follow-up vehicle 'Waiting to Exhale,' she led up a cast of bona fide black actors, including Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine and Dennis Haysbert (pictured) in the Forest Whitaker-directed movie, based on the best-selling novel by Terry McMillan. With another chart-topping soundtrack --featuring all female acts, produced by Babyface -- the film grossed $67 million in the U.S. and $82 million worldwide.

No telling how much of an influence her husband had on her run-ins with the law, but by the time turn of the century, Whitney was a headlining grabbing mainstay. In January 2000, she was arrested din Hawaii with 15.2 grams of marijuana. The news fueled reports of her excessive substance abuse. The fact that longtime family friend Burt Bacharach fired her from performing on the Academy Awards didn't help either. Yet, Whitney pressed on. That spring, her longtime mentor Clive Davis was fired from Arista Records, the label he founded in 1975 and turned into a pop music powerhouse. The 36-track, double-disc 'Greatest Hits' project was released, peaking at No. 5 on the charts and selling just two million copies.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but this image garnered millions of gasps. That's an emaciated Whitney Houston performing during an All-Star Michael Jackson tribute held at Madison Square Garden in early September 2001. Whitney joined R&B/ pop stars Usher and Mya for an unforgettable rendition of Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.' "That's a bad shot," she defended the image during an infamous interview a year later with ABC correspondent Diane Sawyer a year later. "Now I grant you I've partied, but there have been times when I know I was going through a lot of emotional stress and my eating habits were horrible." When Sawyer mentioned reports that crack rehab efforts failed, Whitney notoriously retorted, "first of all, let's get one thing straight: crack is cheap. I make too much money to ever smoke crack. We don't do crack. Crack is wack."

Although her heavily-marketed 2003 holiday project 'One Wish' only sold under 350,000 copies in the United States, Whitney was still received well internationally. In 2004, she embarked on an international tour, with good friend Natalie Cole and cousin Dionne Warwick throughout Europe. She wowed crowds during solo dates in the Middle East, Russia, and Asia. In June 2004 she won the World Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Women's World Awards in Hamburg, Germany (pictured).

Whitney and Bobby done been through hell, jail, Jerusalem (pictured) and back. And with a marriage that lasted longer than a decade (arrests for spousal abuse and law offending included) many believed that they were going to stand the test of time. But just like some other celebrity Reality TV couples, their marriage dissolved shortly after the hit show went off the air. Bravo's 2005 hit show 'Being Bobby Brown' -- which revealed a side of Whitney like never before -- was must see TV for millions of viewers. On September 13, 2006, her publicist announced that after 14 years, the singer filed for a legal separation from Brown. It was ruled by a judge on April 4, 2007 that their marriage will be definitively dissolved on April 24, 2007 and that Whitney will receive custody of their 14-year-old daughter.

At the top of 2007, there were all of these mainstream media reports about Whitney having financial difficulties and being forced to sell her prized possessions. Through the midst of her latest controversy, she emerged as a beauty during Clive Davis's 2007 Grammy Celebration in Beverly Hills (pictured). As of the spring of 2007, Whitney was recording a new album project with possible collaborations from hit-makers R. Kelly, Diane Warren, Babyface, Akon and Ne-Yo. According to the 2006 Guiness Book of World Records, she has the distinction of being the "Most Awarded/Popular Female Artist of All Time," with over 400 awards.

Ledisi

'Blues in the Night'

For this hearty and robust tour-de-force, this New Orleans-born, Oakland-bred vocal powerhouse lets it all hang out for what some consider to be the collection's most prized work. Ledisi, a neo-soul musical wunderkind on-the-rise, recently made this vampy track --about what her "mama done told" her -- a part of her live repertoire. And her continually growing fan base just eats it up. Though her approach to the material has a new and contemporary feel, it's steep in rich, full-bodied emotion. "Being apart of the Ella Tribute is not only an honor but a dream come true for a southern girl like me who grew up in a city known for being the heart of jazz," she said. "Ella was and still is the heart of jazz -- the "ultimate" jazz vocalist. I'm proud that others considered me worthy enough to be apart of such an exquisite body of work. I am eternally grateful."

Linda Ronstadt

'Miss Otis Regrets'

The leading lady of the post 60s rock era has simmered down in her older age. And that's a good thing. For this somber and suspensful tune -- about a velvet-dress wearing woman who is hanged for killing her lover, but sends her regrets to her female lunch companion -- Linda Ronstadt offers a sweet, endearing storytelling quality that draws in the listener. In a 1985 interview with 'Downbeat' magazine, the Grammy, Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe Award winning singer, songwriter and producer spoke highly of Fitzgerald: "My favorite singers are always the ones who pay the most respect to the melody -- who can riff, but basically are kind of restrained," she said. "Ella is really terrific at that- she sings the melody very, very clearly, and then every once in a while she makes an excursion to another planet."

Gladys Knight

'Someone to Watch Over Me'

"Ella was the sweetest and most beautiful person as a talent and as a human being," Gladys Knight recently beamed about Fitzgerald. The seven-time Grammy Award winning R&B veteran, who was recently announced as the recipient of the 2007 Ella Award -- for her philanthropic endeavors, sings this dreamy George and Ira Gershwin classic with much verve in the classy and relaxed fashion she's been known for throughout her 60 year career. "I cared, respected and loved that lady," Knight said in a recent interview. "She was so....you haven't met a person more down to earth than her with all of her talent....with all of her skills... I was so in awe of her."

Etta James

'Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me'

On this classic Duke Ellington composition, which has been sung by nearly everyone from jazz blues legend Billie Holliday to British rocker Robbie Williams, Etta James delivers the gusto and turns out a most soulful rendition. Known for her timeless romantic anthem, 'At Last,' the 70-year-old soul siren has paid tribute to Fitzgerald --via song-- with previously released renditions of her classics.

k.d. lang

'Angel Eyes'

"I brought an Ella record probably when I was 20 and I studied it, just studied it," the androgenous Canadian singer k.d. lang shared. And she proved a great study, too. Who knew this modern day song stylist had so much soul? For this melancholy Fitzgerald standard, the four-time Grammy Award winner proves she can stand with the best of them. The lush instrumenation bodes well for lang, mostly known for her country and pop material. "...One of the things I love about Ella so much is the texture and the tone, where she chooses to sit the note, it's exciting...To me, she's just like one of the greatest musician's singers there is."

Michael Buble

'Too Close for Comfort'

Michael Buble took the American music scene by storm with his sparkling 2003 debut, which fused his soulful pop flare with classic jazz standards. He's like a third coming of Frank Sinatra with a touch of Harry Connick, Jr. For his efforts, he's topped music charts, won Juno Awards and sold millions of albums. He seems to be right at home with the aforementioned musical greats paying homage to Fitzgerald's legacy. Of that, he said, "the color in her voice, her intimation, her feel, it's just scary when you hear it because she's marvelous." The Vancouver crooner went as far to say that he wishes "she was still around now because I'll pay anything to just go sit through a set and watch everything she does."