Whitney Houston –
Biography & Career Highlights
By : Dana Monserrat Mtz Sandoval
Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, USA. She came from a musical family — her mother Cissy Houston was a gospel singer, her cousin was Dionne Warwick, and her godmother was Aretha Franklin.
Whitney started singing in her church choir and later became a backup vocalist. In the early 1980s, she was discovered by music executive Clive Davis, who signed her to Arista Records.
Her self-titled debut album, Whitney Houston (1985), was a huge success. It included hits like:
“How Will I Know”
“Saving All My Love for You”
“Greatest Love of All”
This album made her a global star and won her a Grammy Award.
Her second album, Whitney (1987), made history when it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart — the first by a female artist to do so. It featured the classic:
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”
In 1992, she starred in The Bodyguard alongside Kevin Costner. The film was a box office hit, but even more successful was its soundtrack, especially the song:
“I Will Always Love You” (originally by Dolly Parton)
This song became one of the best-selling singles of all time and showcased her powerful voice.
Throughout her career, Whitney Houston sold over 200 million records worldwide and won:
6 Grammy Awards
2 Emmy Awards
30 Billboard Music Awards
22 American Music Awards
Sadly, Whitney struggled with personal issues, including substance abuse. She passed away on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48.
Despite her tragic end, Whitney Houston is remembered as one of the greatest vocalists in music history. Her voice, talent, and legacy continue to inspire artists around the world.
22 American Music Awards
Sadly, Whitney struggled with personal issues, including substance abuse. She passed away on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48.
Despite her tragic end, Whitney Houston is remembered as one of the greatest vocalists in music history. Her voice, talent, and legacy continue to inspire artists around the world.