Who Was Whitney Houston?
Born on August 9, 1963, Whitney Houston was a Grammy-winning singer and actress whose marvelous vocalism and charisma made her one of the most influential and best-selling artists in music history.
While performing at a New York City nightclub in 1983, she was discovered by Arista Records chairman Clive Davis, and Houston signed her first record deal with the label on April 10, 1983, marking the beginning of her rise to fame in the 1980s and 1990s.
Whitney Houston remained active in the music industry until she tragically passed away on February 11, 2012, but won more than 400 awards over the course of her career, including six Grammy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and 22 American Music Awards.
Meanwhile, she broke racial and gender barriers in the music industry. For example, her 1985 hit, How Will I Know, expanded her reach into white audiences; her 1987 self-titled debut album, Whitney, made her the first woman in history to debut at number one on the Billboard 200; and she performed The Star-Spangled Banner at Super Bowl XXV in 1991, becoming the first Black woman to do so.
In her near 30-year career as a musician, Houston has amassed approximately 13.1 billion career audio and video streams, with 220 million albums, singles, and videos sold globally.
That being said, some of her hit songs include I Will Always Love You (1992), Greatest Love of All (1986), How Will I Know (1985), and Saving All My Love for You (1985).
Aside from her massive success as a musician, Whitney Houston also starred in movies including The Bodyguard (1992), Waiting to Exhale (1995), The Preacher’s Wife (1996), and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997).
Overall, the legacy of Whitney Houston has inspired countless singers across the world with her vocal style, and she has inspired her fans all over the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How long did her self-titled debut album Whitney Houston top the Billboard 200 for?
Whitney Houston topped the Billboard 200 for 14 weeks and remains the best-selling debut album by a solo artist.
2) Why was Whitney Houston nicknamed “The Voice?”
Whitney Houston was nicknamed “The Voice” because of her unmatched vocal power, technical control, emotional depth, and gospel-rooted training.
Source: https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/why-whitney-houston-deserves-be-called-voice-249128/
3) What is Whitney Houston’s most streamed song?
Whitney Houston’s most-streamed song is her 1987 hit “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” which has amassed 1,786,228,455 streams.
Source: https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/6XpaIBNiVzIetEPCWDvAFP_songs.html
Why it matters
Whitney Houston’s vocal talent and record-breaking achievements influenced generations of artists who’ve transformed the landscape of pop music.
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