Whitney Houston August 9 1963 February 11 2012

Whitney Houston August 9, 1963 †February 11, 2012 †

Background information • • • Birth name Whitney Elizabeth Houston Born August 9, 1963 Newark, New Jersey, U. S. Died February 11, 2012 (aged 48)Beverly Hills, California, U. S. Genres Pop, R&B, soul, dance, gospel Occupations Singer, actress, model, film producer, record producer, songwriter Instruments Vocals, piano Years active 1977– 2012 Labels Arista, RCA Associated acts Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Jermaine Jackson, Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Bobby Brown

Total Characteristic • Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her awards include two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards in her lifetime. Houston was also one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. Houston began singing with her New Jersey church's junior gospel choir at age 11. After she began performing alongside her mother in night clubs in the New York City area, she was discovered by Arista Records label head Clive Davis. Houston released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multiplatinum, platinum or gold certification.

• Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits ("Saving All My Love for You", "How Will I Know", "Greatest Love of All", "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"). She is the second artist behind Elton John and the only female artist to have two number-one Billboard 200 Album awards (formerly "Top Pop Album") on the Billboard magazine year-end charts (Whitney Houston and The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album). Houston's 1985 debut album Whitney Houston became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. The album was named Rolling Stone's best album of 1986, and was ranked at number 254 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. [5] Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know", influenced several African. American female artists to follow in her footsteps.

• Houston's first acting role was as the star of the feature film The Bodyguard (1992). The film's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single "I Will Always Love You", became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history. With the album, Houston became the first act (solo or group, male or female) to sell more than a million copies of an album within a single week period. The album makes her the top female act in the top 10 list of the best-selling albums of all time, at number four. Houston continued to star in movies and contribute to their soundtracks, including the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). The Preacher's Wife soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album in history. Three years after the release of her fourth studio album My Love Is Your Love (1998), she renewed her recording contract with Arista Records. She released her fifth studio album Just Whitney in 2002, and the Christmas-themed One Wish: The Holiday Album in 2003. In 2009, Houston released her seventh studio album I Look to You.

The text of the famous song “I will always love you” • • If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you ev'ry step of the way. • • • And I will always love you. You, my darling you. Hmm. • • Bittersweet memories that is all I'm taking with me. So, goodbye. Please, don't cry. We both know I'm not what you, you need. • • • And I will always love you. (Instrumental solo) • • I hope life treats you kind And I hope you have all you've dreamed of. And I wish to you, joy and happiness. But above all this, I wish you love. • • • And I will always love you. I, I will always love you. • • You, darling, I love you. Ooh, I'll always love you.

Houston met with President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office in 1990, while in Washington, D. C. , to participate in the Youth Leadership Forum Houston performing "Saving All My Love for You" on the Welcome Heroes concert in 1991

Whitney Houston performing at Good Morning America in Central Park on September 1, 2009

Houston performing "My Love Is Your Love" with her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown on Good Morning America, September 1, 2009

Whitney Houston at the O 2 Arena, April 28, 2010, as part of her Nothing but Love World Tour One of Houston's best selling singles worldwide and recognized songs, "I Will Always Love You“(1992) prominently uses melismas.

The Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Houston's body was found

A Barbie doll inspired by Houston's appearance in the music video for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (1987). Houston became one of the few black female artists whose music videos received heavy rotation on MTV and other music video channels.