Whitney Houston, whose soaring voice lifted her to the
top of the pop music world but whose personal decline was fueled by years of
drug use, died on Saturday afternoon in a Beverly Hills hotel room. She was 48.
The pop superstar died on the eve of the Grammy Awards in
Los Angeles at the same hotel where her mentor, record mogul Clive Davis, was
holding an annual pre-event party featuring scores of music industry
celebrities. A dramatic scene unfolded at the Beverly Hilton hotel as
guests arriving for the party expressed shock at her death, while reporters
swarmed the hotel, fans gathered outside to light candles in her memory and
helicopters hovered overhead. Beverly Hills police said they were called to the Beverly
Hilton at around 3:43 p.m. PST, and fire department personnel who were already
at the location responded immediately. Houston was in her fourth-floor room but
was unresponsive to CPR, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m.
“She has been positively identified by friends and family
(who) were with her at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified,”
Lieutenant Mark Rosen told reporters. Police said there were no obvious signs of
criminal intent.
Los Angeles County coroners removed Houston's body from
the hotel shortly before midnight through a backdoor to avoid the crush of media
set up to cover her shocking death.
Typically, coroners conduct an autopsy within a day or
two, at which point they might release some preliminary information about the
death. If drugs or alcohol are involved, however, an official cause of death
would not be released until after toxicology tests, which could take six to
eight weeks.
BRILLIANT CAREER
Tributes poured in from around the world for a singer
whose remarkable vocal power and range produced some of the most memorable music
of her generation, including her signature hit, “I Will Always Love You.” Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys, told the audience at Davis's party that Jennifer Hudson would sing a tribute to Houston at Sunday night's Grammy Awards.
“We will do something appropriate tomorrow, and nothing could be more appropriate than having Jennifer Hudson sing on stage for Whitney,” Portnow said. “In our community, we celebrate things ... let's celebrate Whitney Houston.”
Outside the hotel in the wealthy enclave of Beverly Hills, a phalanx of hotel security personnel guarded the perimeter to prevent reporters and fans from entering. Some of Houston's admirers gathered on the sidewalk, lighting candles and singing her songs.
Over the course of a 30-year career in which she established herself as one of the most-admired and influential singers of her time, Houston won six Grammys, 30 Billboard awards and 22 American Music Awards. She released seven studio albums and sold some 170 million CDs, singles and videos. The soundtrack for a hit movie in which she starred, “The Boydguard,” was among the best-selling soundtracks in movie history.
Her 1985 debut, “Whitney Houston,” became the best-selling debut album by a female act at that time, and spawned several hits including “How Will I Know.” Her second studio CD, 1987's “Whitney,” became the first album by a female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
She crossed over from music success to TV and movies, appearing in “The Bodyguard” (1992), as well as “Waiting to Exhale” (1995) and “The Preacher's Wife” (1996).
Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1963, Houston was inspired to perform as a child by soul singers in her family, including mother Cissy Houston and cousins Dionne Warwick and the late Dee Dee Warwick. Her godmother was Aretha Franklin.
“I just can't talk about it now,” Franklin said in a statement. “It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen. My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby (Brown).”
PERSONAL TURMOIL
By the early 1990s, Houston reigned as the queen of pop, but her critical and commercial success on stage was accompanied by an increasingly troubled personal life. In 1992 she married singer Bobby Brown, who had a bad-boy reputation, and their tumultuous 14 years together were marred by drug abuse and domestic violence.
In 2000, she and Brown were stopped at an airport in Hawaii and security guards discovered marijuana in their luggage. In a 2002 TV interview, she admitted using marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs.
The pair also starred in a reality TV series, “Being Bobby Brown,” which painted an often unflattering portrait of the couple.
The last 10 years of Houston's life were dominated by drug use, rumors of relapses and trips to rehab.
She launched a comeback tour in 2009, and in April 2010 she called media reports she was using drugs again “ridiculous.” In May 2011, Houston enrolled in a drug and alcohol rehab program.
Despite her personal troubles, Houston commanded great affection among her music industry colleagues, and emotional tributes flooded the media in the hours after news broke of her death.
Reactions poured in from all corners of the music world in the hours after her death, via Twitter, prepared press statements, and interviews.
- "She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us." - Barbra Streisand, in a statement.
- "I am personally devastated by the loss of someone who has meant so much to me for so many years. Whitney was so full of life. She was so looking forward to tonight even though she wasn't scheduled to perform. She loved music and she loved this night that celebrates music ... Whitney was a beautiful person and a talent beyond compare. She graced this stage with her regal presence and gave so many memorable performances here over the years. Simply put, Whitney would have wanted the music to go on and her family asked that we carry on. I ask that you join me in a moment of silence as we dedicate this evening to Whitney." - Clive Davis, recording industry executive who helped launch Houston's career, speaking at the party he was hosting at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
- "I just can't talk about it now. It's so stunning and unbelievable. I couldn't believe what I was reading coming across the TV screen. My heart goes out to Cissy, her daughter Bobbi Kris, her family and Bobby." - Aretha Franklin, Houston's godmother, in a statement.
- “I am absolutely heartbroken at the news of Whitney's passing,” legendary music producer Quincy Jones said in a statement. “... I always regretted not having had the opportunity to work with her. She was a true original and a talent beyond compare. I will miss her terribly.”
- Barbra Streisand said in a statement: “She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us.”
- Pop star Rihanna posted on Twitter “No words, just tears.”
- "I can't believe that Whitney is gone. We spent more than twenty great years together at ARISTA Records with our friend and mentor, Clive Davis. My heart goes out to her family, to Clive, and to everyone who knew and loved this amazingly talented and beautiful artist. I will always love her." - Barry Manilow, in a statement.
- "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston." - Mariah Carey, on Twitter.
- "She means so much to me. You know, Whitney has impacted music in such a great way, and I think that all of us artists can attest to that. I mean, to me she is like one of the ultimate performers in my book. You don't see too many singers standing on their feet by just singing, not doing anything else besides just singing. And her smile was so beautiful. It was a part of her performance. Her stage presence was very special. And her voice. I don't think I need to say anything. It's truly insurmountable. I don't know too many voices like that, that are as amazing as hers." - singer Ciara, in an interview with Reuters.
- "She was just a gift in voice ... She was just so innocent in the business, and that voice was so pure and her life was so pure. That's what I'm holding on to. I think what we're going to do in the long run of her life story is focus on the voice, not the tragedy, but the voice." - Lionel Richie, in an interview with CNN.
- "I've know Whitney since she was a little girl and I loved her. She was like family to me. I will miss her." - Smokey Robinson, in a statement.
- "Whitney Houston was not only an amazing artist but also a beautiful person. She was so smart and her knowledge and appreciation for the musical art form was remarkable." - Berry Gordy, Motown founder, in a statement.
- "So devastating. We will always love you Whitney, R.I.P." - Katy Perry on Twitter.
- "Whitney is dead, OMG, I'm so heartbroken. You were amazing and I hope you have found peace! x." - Boy George on Twitter.
- "just heard the news. so crazy. One of the GREATEST VOICES EVER just passed. RIP Whitney Houston. My prayers go out to her friends and family." - Justin Bieber on Twitter.
- "I pray that people will remember her for the positive things that happened in her career and in life ... We all go through negativity. We all fall. We all have bumps and bruises that happen through our life. That's what it is to be alive. You fall, but it's not about falling. It's about getting back up. And I hope that people will remember that every time she fell she got right back up. Every time you saw her she had a smile on her face. Hopefully they'll hold on to that." - singer Ne-Yo, in an interview with Reuters.
BY COURTESY
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
