Saturday 11 February 2012

US singer and actress Whitney Houston dies aged 48

American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48, her publicist Kristen Foster has said

American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died in Los Angeles at the age of 48.
A spokesman for Houston's family confirmed the news, saying: "Unfortunately, it is true."
Houston was one of the most celebrated female singers of all time, with hits including I Will Always Love You and Saving All My Love For You.
But her later career was overshadowed by substance abuse and her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown.
Police spokesman Mark Rosen told reporters Houston was found dead at 15:55 pm (23:55 GMT) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she was staying as a guest.
"She has been positively identified by friends and family that were with her at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified," he said.
The cause of her death remains unclear but police said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent".
'Finest voice'
Houston's background was steeped in soul and gospel music.
Her mother was gospel singer Cissy Houston and she was cousin to singer Dionne Warwick, and goddaughter to Aretha Franklin.
Having grown up in New Jersey, she began singing in church and then in the night clubs of New York, and was a model before being signed by Arista Records.
At the height of her career in the 1980s and 90s she won many awards and enjoyed several number one singles and albums.
Arists from Mariah Carey to Christina Aguilera have tried to emulate her bravura performances, but none of them were as good as the original, music critic Paul Gambaccini told the BBC.
Houston also enjoyed success acting in films such as The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.
In recent years drug use took its toll on the star and her voice - once acknowledged as one of the finest in pop music - was badly damaged.
"She did have it all, but the record is there of the decline into drug use and the damage done from drug use," said Gambaccini.
Her marriage to Brown, with whom she had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, ended in divorce in 2007. The marriage had been a tempestuous one, with allegations of domestic abuse.
"The biggest devil is me. I'm either my best friend or my worst enemy,'' Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in a 2002 interview.
Beverly Hilton, Los AngelesHouston was found on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton hotel
Correspondents say Houston's death will undoubtedly overshadow the music industry's Grammy Awards, due to be held in Los Angeles on Sunday.
She had been expected to attend the ceremony and her close friend Clive Davis had recently hinted she might perform.
"It's her favourite night of the year ... who knows by the end of the evening," he had told AP.
Civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton said that on the morning of the Grammys, "the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird".


No comments:

Post a Comment