Whitney Houston
By
User:AllieCashel @timeAndDate(1278961650)
At the same time that Michael Jackson was breaking down barriers for black male performers, Whitney Huston was doing it for females. At age eleven, Houston started performing in her New Jersey church and within only a few years, she became the first female artist to debut on the ''Billboard 200. ''Throughout her multiple decade career, Houston has been recognized with numerous different awards as well as placement on top 100 and 50 lists. ''Rolling Stone'' for example, ranked Houston as one of the top 100 singers of all time. One of the best selling artists the industry has seen, Whitney Houston's popularity not only had a major impact on the style of pop music but also broke down racist and sexist barriers for many female artists who would follow in her legendary footsteps.
Houston's Albums
'''''Whitney Houston'''''-This was Houston's debut album and, though it was a little slow to start, originally brought Houston to fame. Some it's biggest hit songs, including "Greatest Love of All," "Saving All My Love For You" and "How Will I Know," perfectly showcased her soulful and explosive voice, winning her "Best Pop Vocal Performance" at the Grammy Awards that year. Her music eventually evolved to better fit her voice and style, but this remains a fresh and touching example of Houston's powerful voice.
'''''I'm Your Baby Tonight'''''- Her third studio recording, released in 1990, included 20 hit singles including "I Belong To You," which gained Houston another Grammy Nomination for "Best R&B Vocal Performance." It has much more of an R&B feel than her first CD, but still highlights her powerful, pure voice in almost every one of the songs. Generally, it was very well received by both critics and the public but was the last album she recorded before focusing on her film career for the next five years.
'''''My Love is Your Love''''' - After Houston worked in Hollywood for a few years, she released this album in 1998 which featured a combination of music styles including R&B, hip hop, reggae, ballad, urban dance and torch songs. One single on the CD, "It's Not Right But It's Okay," earned Houston her sixth Grammy Award and helped the massive swell of her popularity after the album's release. It is consistent, unique and a fantastic demonstration of Houston's vocal ability as well as her personal style.
'''''Just Whitney''''' - At the time of it's original release this was Houston's biggest seller, but throughout the rest of 2002 the sales leveled out, making it the least successful of her career. ''Just Whitney ''is composed of the same type of music as ''My Love is Your Love'' but a more mature sound overall. At the time of the albums release, Houston was torn apart by the tabloids for a suspected drug problem as well as her failing marriage. The disappointing success of this recording, relatively speaking of course, could be attributed to her falling reputation.
'''''I Look to You''''' - Houston released ''I Look to You ''in 2009 and, after a few years of drug and marriage controversies, it proved that she was back on track. Although it didn't receive any Grammy nominations, it was well received by the critics and has continued to do very well commercially since its original release. She did many different promotional interviews and performances for the album with the hopes that she would restore her reputation to the place it once was. ''I Look to You ''gained her two nominations at the NAACP Award Festival and one win for her single "I Look to You." The album seems to mark a turn around for Houston, in both her career and her life.
Some of her other albums include ''
The Preachers Wife''.
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