90’s singer, songwriter, and actress Whitney Houston is being highlighted as a music pioneer for pop/R&B.Whitney Houston was born to a musical family. Her mother being gospel star Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick, Goddaughter to Aretha Franklin. well known for her powerful voice and qualities as a musician. She was gospel-trained, but gravitated towards R&B and Pop. Whitney was the first black woman to break through the “colour bar” at MTV, as they almost exclusively only played white artist’s music. Whitney Houston inspired viewers and fans alike, as well as other women in music with her glamour and talent. Whitney Houston won her first Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Saving All My Love for You.” In 1992, Houston starred in the film The Bodyguard, and sang on the soundtrack. The song was a version of “I Will Always Love You,” a song originally written and sung by Dolly Parton. Houston’s version of the track reached number 1 in over a dozen countries after its release, remaining in that spot for 14 weeks and went on to win awards multiple awards before eventually becoming certified as diamond by the RIAA for more then ten million units sold. Of course, Whitney Houston is known for many more hits such as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and “I’m Every Woman.”
Houston’s career was full of successes and although her life and career ended to tragedy, we still acknowledge her contribution to music and the pop and R&B genres and show appreciation to her for Women’s History Month.
Check out the official music video for WHITNEY HOUSTON’s version of “I Will Always Love You,” below.