Whitney Houston (1963 – 2012). A Smart Beautiful Woman To Remember

Biographies June 19, 2021

Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, USA. She died on February 11, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California, USA. She was a renowned music artist, model, actress, and philanthropist.

Whitney Houston studied high school education at Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell, New Jersey from where she successfully graduated in 1981.

Her interest in music is said to have begun as early as in 1974 at the age of just 11, with some solo performances in a junior gospel choir belonging to the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. The interest and her musical milestones that followed are said to have been highly inspired and supported by her mother Ciccy Houston who was an independent singer as well as backing vocalist for the legendary Elvis Presley. Her mother did not only inspire her but also supported her directly through teaching her how to sing and even performing on stage with her, as well as taking her recording studios. Also, some renowned music artists that include Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, and Roberta Flack are said to have had considerable influence on her singing and performing styles.

In 1980 Whitney Houston at the age of 17, secured a recording deal with Michaele Zager, that was followed by another deal by Elektra Records in 1981. However, she could not sign any of the deals because her mother refused on grounds that she was yet to complete her high school education.

In 1982 at the age of 19 and one year after graduating from high school, Whitney Houston eventually signed her first recording deal with Arista Records. It however took 3 years after the signing, before she released her first studio album Whitney Houston in February 1985.

The debut album peaked at No. 1 on Billboard 200 album chart, while its USA lead single You Give Good Love peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Hot R&B chart. The album’s other single Saving All My Love For You became Whitney Houston’s first No. 1 single in both USA and UK, while the album’s third single How Will I Know and fourth single The Greatest Love Of All both peaked at No.1 on Billboard Hot 100.

With the album per se peaking at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and its four singles peaking at No.1 on Billboard Hot 100, the debut album Whitney Houston became a great success in USA and beyond, selling over 22 million copies globally. The album and its singles also earned Whitney Houston several awards including: 7 American Music Awards, 1 Grammy Award, 1 MTV Video Music Award, and 1 Emmy Award, among others. It was quite an extra-ordinary success of a debut studio album.

With the debut album, Whitney Houston made a breakthrough into the global music stage in style. It was an historic milestone for a new young music aspirant of African descent. Her remarkable entry into the music industry hence fame and wealth is said to have inspired many young music aspirants of African descent and native Africans worldwide. Above all, her spectacular arrival at the global music scene is said to have contributed to opening of doors hitherto closed to people of African descent, by some racist and prejudicial music labels.

Full historic biographical sketch to follow asap!

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