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 aunt Dionne Warwick. She had the best songbirds of an era nurturing her God-given talent. She was modeling pretty. She could act. In her career span, she sold over 170 million records, she won six Grammy awards, two Emmy awards and 22 other music awards. She was Clive Davis' favorite protégé. She had a perfect world, so it appeared. 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 cursed her own talent with drugs and alcohol additions. Even after several rehabs, it was questionable as to whether she really won the drug war. She lost her voice because of it. She insulted her God given talent. In May of 2003, Prince Asiel of the Black Hebrews was on a mission. He was determined to rehab Whitney by taking her to Israel for a total absolute rehab. He succeeded with natural food and herbs. However, when they got back to Atlanta, she resumed her old habits and he said, to me, "We are going to loose her to drugs. She can't help it. She can come off the drugs, but she can't stay off."
Life appeared beautiful and she was on top of the world as she sang effortless, but the demons were there. We are all shocked at the early death of her 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. Her public was pulling for her, waiting to hear that voice, again.
She died with historic pause, on the eve of the Grammy Awards, 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. 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 even sometimes the most talented of them all are really insecure people in their own skin and their only comfort is on stage.
This woman, Whitney, gave us music that will live forever. My favorites, "I'm Every Woman," "The Greatest Love" and "I Will Always Love you." are classics. Her stylish beauty and exquisite taste were notable. But when you watched her indepth interviews with Diane Sawyer and the best interview of them all with Oprah Winfrey, you realized a troubled soul.
Viva Whitney.