Lets Remember Whitney Houston, The Good and Bad
February 21, 2012 - Shock, disappointment and horror are some of the many words fans used to describe Whitney Houston’s untimely death last week (February 11, 2012). My family and I were outside a Starbucks when one of our radio listeners texted me with, at first, the rumor. We immediately thought of the crazy Jon Bon Jovi death rumour from December but unlike that one which seemed ridiculous at the time, the death of Whitney was entirely possible. In fact, it seems it had been possible for years.

By the time we got home confirmation was all over the internet. Whitney was dead.

Interestingly, we lost the singer three days away from the 27th anniversary of the release of her self-titled debut album. I remember it well.

On Valentines Day in 1985, Arista Records sent every announcer in our building a free copy of Whitney’s album. Even though I worked for an Adult Contemporary radio station, I didn’t exactly jump at the gift. I thought the young girl on the cover looked strange and somewhat exotic. Was this a world music album I remember thinking?  This just wasn’t your typical LP style for an incoming superstar. I put the album in my trunk and forgot about it.

Weeks later the requests started coming in for her first single “You Give Good Love” and that’s when I rescued the LP from the back of my car. I have to admit, I was never a huge Whitney fan, even though I considered her one of the best voices ever to record. It was a pleasant surprise that a whole year after burying that album in my trunk it reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for seven weeks. That debut album also turned out to be Houston’s biggest selling solo outing racking in 25 million sold.

In 1992 she had an even bigger triumph with The Bodyguard. Not only did Whitney star in the movie but she also sang six tunes on the soundtrack including one of the most powerful love songs of all time, “I Will Always Love You,” written by Dolly Parton. The soundtrack sold 44 million worldwide.

Whitney set the bar very high, in fact too high, even for herself. In the end it certainly wasn’t very pretty for us to watch her unravel but imagine what it must have been like for her?

When someone commits suicide, believe it or not, they don’t really want to die. They just want the pain to stop. Whitney Houston did not commit suicide but she was not short on pain. I know many are quick to judge that it ultimately was the singer’s fault that she died that day. Whitney didn’t abuse substances so she could die, she simply wanted the pain to stop.

So many assume that trying a new drug is easy. It’s certainly not because that first step for many and maybe for Whitney, sets up this cat-and-mouse game between the user and the substance. Will you beat the drug before it kills you or at least, ruins your life?

Whatever the outcome of the toxicology tests on Whitney, I think it’s safe to say that one way or another substance abuse lead to her demise. Well, we learn from death and if there is any positive outcome of this it’s that we tend to learn more from a big death and Whitney’s story will teach us much. – by John Beaudin

Smooth Jazz Now and Friends Remember Whitney Houston February 21, 2012 - As it was stated during the Grammy Awards, "We've had a death in the family." Now our own Jazz family is remembeing Whitney Houston. Everyone on our staff were touched by the outpouring of love and sadness for Whitney. Check out our exclusive comment from friends and colleagues.   Gregory Abbott: “The world has sustained an incredible loss and I personally am crushed that Nippy (Whitney) has left us. Artistically she had one of the most satisfying voices I have ever heard. A melodic pop sensibility, tinged with a down home gospel flavor that gave it authenticity. I just love listening to her. I first heard her sing out at New Hope Baptist Church in New Jersey while on an expedition out there to hear her mother (Cissy) sing. We were considering using Cissy to sing backup vocals on songs I was recording for my very first record deal. What a surprise to hear her young daughter with her angelic composure as she proceeded to shake the rafters loose. I absolutely had to have her sing as well, and I ended up singing several duets with Whitney (unreleased). I was nervous as hell. Whitney was one hundred percent rock solid calm and at home. Amazing. She was only seventeen. She sounded like a singer ten, fifteen years older.  She and her mother helped me through that session with advice on how to build drama, phrasing, and using different parts of the voice to communicate the emotion of a song. We all know Whitney's track record of accomplishments. She has made as great an impact on the music industry (and especially singers) as any individual possibly could make.  All through the years, Whitney has been supportive and someone I've truly called "friend". What a generous, vulnerable soul was she. How painful that she's gone. I will miss her very, very much.”  - Gregory Abbott   “It’s unfortunate that it took Whitney Houston’s death for the world to remember how amazing she was.  After watching The Bodyguard for the first time and listening to her ‘Greatest Hits’ continually for the past week it’s hard not to be in awe at the brilliance of what she was. Now as we move on it’s as important to learn from what happened. This is a tragedy and we need to pay attention to it.” – John Beaudin, Host and Program Director fo Smooth Jazz Now “The world has lost one of the all-time greats. She had such a rare gift, one that reached the outer-limits of the globe...no matter the language, her voice was understood. That's the mark of a true icon, someone who's influence will be felt forever. The world will miss you, Whitney.” - Dave Koz     READ MORE THOUGHTS ON WHITNEY ON OUR FULL TRIBUTE HERE

Whitney Houston Died in the Bathtub
February 12, 2011 – More information is surfacing concerning the death of Whitney Houston. Sources close to the investigation say that the singer was found in the bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles. Her face was underwater.

Houston’s stylist, hairdresser and two bodyguards were just outside the bathroom at the time of her death. The crew were set to help the singer prepare for the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party. After not hearing from Whitney for over an hour they became concerned. One of them knocked on the bathroom door but heard no answer. That’s when a female hairdresser opened the door and screamed when she saw Whitney with her face underwater and her legs were up. One of the bodyguards quickly pulled her out and attempted CPR. Unfortunately, the singer was probably already dead as her body was very cold.

After paramedics arrived they also tried, in vain, to save her live. She was pronounced dead at 3:55PM.

Sources also say that the singer was taking Xanax. When she had big performances it’s something she took to calm her nerves and last night she was set to perform a song at the Clive Davis event. Some are guessing that she may have fallen asleep in the bathtub and drowned.

Houston was also drinking a lot the night before she died.

Whitney Houston’s Mom Says The Singer Seemed Fine Before Her Death
February 11, 2012 – According to Whitney Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, she spoke to her daughter just before she died and Whitney seemed absolutely fine.

The elder Houston says she spoke to her daughter about 30 minutes before she died. The pair talked about attending the Clive Davis (pictured with Houston) pre-Grammy party.

Whitney apparently spoke to her cousin, singer Dionne Warwick a few hours earlier today and says there were no signs of trouble. The pair also talked about the pre-Grammy party and how they both wanted to sit together.

Whitney was spotted outside a nightclub this week looked heavily intoxicated. There were also rumors that the singer was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Houston died at 3:35PM today at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. No cause of death has been released. - By John Beaudin

Whitney Houston May Have Already Been Dead When Paramedics Arrived
February 11, 2012  - Whitney Houston died this afternoon. She was 48. Some sources are saying there was nothing the emergency workers could have done to save Houston’s life.

A member of the singers entourage found her in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel this afternoon and immediately called hotel security, then 911 was called. According to some sources Houston was unresponsive by the time paramedics arrived.

Paramedics performed CPR but nothing worked. She was pronounced dead at 3:55PM.

According to Associated Press there were no signs of foul play in her room however a full investigation is underway.

Houston had a well-publicized battle with drugs for many years.- by John Beaudin

Whitney Houston Dead at 48
February 11, 2012 – Whitney Houston has died according to her publicist. The singer, who was 48, passed away today according to Kristen Foster but it was unclear how the singer died. According to some sources, Houston died at the Beverly Hilton hotel.

Of course the Internet is abuzz on the cause of death being drug related but nothing has been officially announced.

Houston peaked in the 1980’s and ‘90’s with huge hits like "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love for You" and "I Will Always Love You." She not only had one of the best voices in any genre but also won numerous accolades including 6 Grammy Awards, two Emmy Awards and 22 American Music Awards. Needless to say tomorrow nights Grammy broadcast will no doubt be filled with Whitney tributes.

Whitney Houston Says Drug Rumors are "Ridiculous"
April 14, 2010 – Some Whitney Houston fans are saying, “If it quakes like a duck.” The singer is again under scrutiny about a possible drug relapse after more terrible concert reviews and more concert cancellations but the singer told People magazine those rumors are "ridiculous.”

 The singer was also released from a Paris hospital last week (April 7) after suffering a respiratory infection but says she looks forward to continuing her tour in Europe. "I'm feeling great," she said. "I'm just ready to move on and continue my world tour."

 Houston, 46, told People, "My health is terrific, but this is a time when I get a lot of allergies.” So why go on tour at this time of the year?

Whitney Houston Credits her Daughter For New Found Inspiration
July 27, 2009 – Anyone with a 16 year old knows that care-giving for that age group is challenging. Whitney Houston takes it all in stride. After years being married to Bobby Brown I guess a sixteen year old daughter is nothing. Houston is making her Pop comeback with her upcoming album “I Look To You,” her first since 2002’s “Just Whitney.” The singer says one of her biggest fans is daughter Bobbi Kristina, who gave mom lots of confidence, "She was with me every step of the way, when I get discouraged and I get like 'this is tiring, this is wearing me out, I'm just not at that point', she'd just go 'no mom you can do this, get up, get up'."

She adds "I'm a lot wiser now, certainly a lot older. Things mean a lot more to me. I have a 16-year-old daughter, which makes a lot of changes in a woman's life. I think the songs themselves will speak to you when you hear them. And you'll understand where I am and the changes I've gone through for the better."

Whitney quickly got the courage to put it all together and the album is due in September.

The singer said the project came with a friendly push from mentor Clive Davis, "He called me one day and said 'it's time." And I said, 'time for what?' And he says 'time for you to come back and sing for us again'."

So far the comeback feeling has been gratifying for Houston, "It's great to be back, it s more like riding a horse. A bike you can stop, break. Sometimes you’ve got to pull the horse reins back, you've got to hold the rein a little better." – by Sheryl Duncan

Whitney Houston’s New Album Out in March?
January 20, 2009 – Second chances are few in life. You screw up and any semblance, of what you thought was a normal life, could disappear quicker than two jiggles on a jackrabbit's ass. Whitney Houston seems to have been forgiven by fans and some of the media for seemingly throwing her life and voice away courtesy of crack.

Some industry insiders predict that the diva will finally release her comeback sometime in March though the label has given no official release date. Houston is also set to possible perform songs off the new disc at record mogul Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy bash next month.

Davis was there for Whitney before and after the crack sojourns and has hinted that the voice that he introduced to us in 1985 is back. Though that is unlikely, Houston has been working on getting her voice back with vocal coaches. Let’s not forget a few performances in the past two years where Whitney sounded like Scatman Crothers.

Davis told the New York Post, "We've always said we were looking toward the end of the first quarter of (2009). I do feel good about the material we have and what's been going on."

His pre-Grammy gala will take place February 7th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the evening before the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. – by John Beaudin

Urgent! Whitney Houston Sounds Like a Truck
July 29, 2008 – What happens when a 5 octave diva becomes obsessed with smokes and drugs? It’s an all 'Scatman Crothers revival! Britain’s Daily Mirror says Whitney Houston was almost 'unrecognizable' when she started recording her new album. The paper says, “She was smoking a lot and taking a lot of drugs. Her voice was almost unrecognizable.”

Interestingly, this is the same lady who was once called “The Voice.” The good news is Clive Davis sent Whitney to singing lessons and she’s now in top form. Well, that sounds like a spin from the inside. It's hard to repair that stuff!

A source told the Mirror, "Thousands have been shelled out to train her back up to the original. But now she sounds terrific - she is going to blow everybody away.” The new Whitney album comes out in November. – By John Beaudin

Whitney Houston’s Career Comeback Hit A Rough Patch
May 7, 2008 - Whitney Houston, who is currently 44 years-old, isn’t anymore the star she used to be. Her career is a shambles. Indeed the former drug-addicted diva’s 15-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina (whose father is former funk star Bobby Brown) attempted suicide last February. The singer seemed to have overcome her personal life problems (a tumultuous wedding and divorce from Bobby Brown and a long addiction to drugs) and was a highly anticipated headliner at the Plymouth Jazz Festival, that took recently place (April 27th) on the Caribbean island of Tobago. This concert was supposed to re-launch the singer’s career after a lengthy layoff. However, it unfortunately turned out to be a lackluster performance. Whitney disappointed fans, when she lost her voice, as she was unable to hit the high notes of her hit single “I Will Always Love You”, and ended her performance of seven songs after only 30 minutes before a sold-out international crowd. And there were other embarrassments that evening. Paid a reported amount of $3 million for the gig, the ex-Mrs. Brown banned the many members of the press on site, refusing interviews and photos and ordering the media to stay 200 feet from the stage during her performance. And on top of that, the once-golden-voiced diva did not have the slightest clue on exactly where she was, as she kept on saying: “I love you Trinidad!”, despite performing in the southern Caribbean island of Tobago.

Whitney, who is reported to date famous American actor, songwriter, record producer and singer Ray J, has been working on a new studio album since last year. The still untitled  is slated to for a release in November 2008. The album should include recorded tunes with famous R&B singers Ne-Yo and R.Kelly and rapper Akon among other artists.

However, after such a long time away from stage and this missed concert in Tobago, Whitney Houston will have to work a lot on her current flat and listless voice to be able to bounce back and regain the golden voice she commanded at the height of her career.

Let us hope for Whitney that she will be able to get herself together soon! - By Akbar Nour

Whitney Houston and Tony Bennett Plan Duet
October 6, 2004 - There is a possibility all the damage control is paying off for Whitney Houston . Last month she wowed everyone at the World Music Awards with a medley including "I Believe in You and Me" and "I Will Always Love You," and she looked healthy. During her press conference backstage Celine Dion halted proceedings to listen to Houston's set, getting down on her hands and knees with tears in her eyes and proclaiming, "I just want to say how amazing Whitney is. She's had such a difficult life." Ok, that was just plain weird! Houston is bouncing back though she recently made it known of her dream to sing a duet with Tony Bennett and he answered her call. Bennett told "Access Hollywood'' that he and Houston are going to record a "wonderful ballad'' together. He says he asked Houston to record a song with him after a fan heard her say on Access Hollywood that she wanted to sing with him. He says "I couldn't believe it.'' Bennett says he will work with Houston "wherever it is convenient for her.'' Also last month it was reported that Houston will reunite with Clive Davis for the next album. He's the man that discovered her . Most of her troubles started two years ago when she appeared paper thin at a Michael Jackson event and three days later things got worse when she failed to show up for another concert, the rumors flew that she was dead. Lets not forget all the talk of drugs. Lets wish her a healthy come back!

Whitney Houston and Clive Davis Reunite
September 17, 2004 - It could be the one thing that brings legitimacy back to Whitney Houston's career - a reunion with the man that discovered her, Clive Davis. The two are back together for the first time in five years with plans for Davis to produce her next album. The album which will be her seventh studio recording for Davis' Arista Records is rumored to have the singer return to a simpler, adult contemporary sound that put her on the map in the mid eighties. Davis, was honored Wednesday evening (September 15, 2004) at the World Music Awards in Las Vegas where he received the first ever non-performer Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry Award. Houston flew in for the broadcast to pay tribute to Davis and received several roaring standing ovations. The two have made musical history together with Whitney holding the record for seven consecutive number 1's in Billboard's Hot 100 Chart.

Cole, Houston and Warwick Set To Tour Together
May 21, 2004 - Get ready for a 1-2-3 Diva punch this summer. Natalie Cole has told Access Hollywood that she'll share the stage with Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick for a summer tour. Cole and Houston are good friends and both have had substance abuse problems, Cole has been clean for years. As for Houston, Cole says she's "doing really great,'' and has a "great desire to really get healthy and get well." Houston recently checked herself into a drug rehabilitation centre and is reportedly clean and sober. The tour will start in Germany in July.

Whitney Houston Adds Family Touch To Christmas CD
October 28, 2003 - Whitney Houston seems to understand that Christmas is all about family. The singer has invited her ten year old daughter Bobbi Kristina to sing on her holiday CD simply titled "One Wish - The Holiday Album" due in stores November 18th. The 10 year old sings a duet with her mother on "Little Drummer Boy." Even though the elder Houston has sung many Christmas tunes in the past on special compilation CD's this is her first actual full length holiday album.