“The Voice”

Today, I have the pleasure to present one of the greatest women of all, who the crossover success opened doors for many other African American women to find success in the world of pop and movies. She is well known for her “penetrating pop-gospel voice”. They even name her: “The Voice”. Let me introduce Whitney Houston.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born in august 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey. She is the third and youngest child in her family. With her mother, Cissy Houston, Cousin Dionne Warwick, and godmother Aretha Franklin, all known as notable figures in the gospel, rhythm and blues, and soul genres, Whitney Houston started singing as a soloist at eleven years old. Her first performance was "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" with the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. When Houston was a teenager, her parents divorced and she continued to live with her mother. She attended a Roman Catholic single-sex high school, Mount Saint Dominic Academy. While she was still in school, she would continue to be surrounded by music from her mother, her cousin, and godmother, all of which would have an impact on her as a musician and performer.

Whitney Houston received many awards from 1985 to 2008. One of her successful box office hit is The Bodyguard movie into Hollywood in the 90s. The soundtrack to that movie is the best-selling soundtrack of all time, and the single "I Will Always Love You" is the best-selling single by a female artist, and also the 6th best-selling song in the history of music. She continued the decade with other successful and culturally significant projects before returning to the studio. Whitney traveled all over the world. In 1986, Greatest Love Tour in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia following the success of the singer's debut album. In 1987, Moment of Truth World Tour started in the summer of 1987, following the release of her sophomore album Whitney. The tour continued overseas during 1988. He sang in North-America, Europe. The “I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour” was a concert tour of arenas that included 101 concert dates in North America and Europe in 1991. The Bodyguard World Tour in 1993, where she performed all the sound track of that The Bodyguard’s album in North America and Europe. My Love Is Your Love World Tour in 1999 with total of 68 concerts in North America and Europe. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Houston is the fourth best-selling female recording artist of all time, and she also is the "The Most Awarded Female Artist of All Time" according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Whitney Houston, being a great pop-gospel singer, had also some drugs and health issues. Was obsession a factor of this orientation? Logically, she was born talented with that full energy and such power in her voice. According to music research, our vocal cords are the most fragile instruments. So, Whitney would never choose to take drugs for a success in a career. Such influence came from a marriage with Bobby Brown who had numerous run-ins with the law.

To conclude, Whitney Elizabeth Houston also known as “The voice” is one of the most successful women in the United States. She opened doors for many of those young people who want to achieve their dreams in that career. She encountered many difficulties in her life, but she remains a model to look up to in that domain. She is “The Voice”.