Quote Of The Day
“Being around people like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick and Roberta Flack. . . had a great impact on me as a singer, as a performer, as a musician.” Whitney Houston
It is a sad, sad day for those of us who love the Eighties Divas. The loss of Whitney Houston is so tragic and senseless. What happened to that fresh-faced young woman who ruled radio with her amazing voice and the MTV airwaves with her stunning beauty. When I was just starting my musical journey in the 1980’s Whitney had just come out with her first album. We were all awe struck at her old soul ability at such a young age. I had the cassette tape and played it incessantly (I know, I am showing my age here – if you don’t know what a cassette is… google it). Whitney had the most amazing tone and at times, you could hear an overtone or harmonic happening on some of her big, beautiful, open notes that soared out at you from the tape deck. I would study that voice for hours and try to emulate the quality and control of her God given gift. Not until years later did I understand how she was creating all those incredible notes with great breathing, diaphragm support and inflection. The fact that she grew up in singing in the Gospel choir at her Church was another circumstance that helped create the Diva that she truly was.
When someone of greatness passes so young and in such a sad way it makes everyone ask the question, “how did this happen to someone who seemed to have it all?” That will forever be the ongoing question. How does someone so beautiful and talented end up throwing it all away and dying so tragically? I have always had a theory that the greatest of musicians and singers all have a deep-rooted sadness or angst that makes them able to project sincere, genuine emotion through their music. This is what we love about the great ones. But the sad fact is, too often when their pain becomes too much to bear, we lose them to drugs, booze and even, in this case death. My hope for the upcoming generations of brilliant singers and musicians is that they find a way to channel their hurt and pain so that their music is heard by millions and the love and appreciation they get back from their fans enables them to keep moving forward with clarity in this wonderful thing we are all bound by, music.
As Whitney was so impacted by the Divas mentioned above in her quote, I was so impacted and influenced by her. Thank you Whitney for helping to create the singer I am today and for fostering my love of music and performance. We will always love you.
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