Tag Archives: death

Whitney: We’ll Always Love You

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Some things in life are beyond understanding.   February 2012 is turning out to be one of ups and downs.  From the death of Don Cornelius to a Giants Super Bowl win.  And now we deal the death of Whitney Houston.
Just this past week blog sites were buzzing with pictures from an LA club of a Whitney Houston we’d come to know all too well.   At times she looked confused, then suddenly ready to party with fans swarming her as she exited the venue.   Her leg appeared cut due to what looked to be drops of blood smeared below the hemline of her dress.

Ms. Houston was in Los Angeles celebrating the Grammy Awards and attending the annual pre-Grammy Party hosted by music mogul Clive Davis.   Since I got the news I’ve been haunted with reminders of the day Michael Jackson left us.
At 48 years old, Whitney Houston hadn’t been the hit-machine superstar with World Wide tours, movies and platinum albums since the late-1990’s.  Since that time her legacy was smeared with a barrage of set backs including a Wendy Williams interview that would prove any publicist’s worst nightmare, over the top reality show cameos on “Being Bobby Brown”, divorce, and numerous tabloid drama.
In 2009 everything seemed to change as media frenzy hit surrounding a new album and public appearances.   The first single from the album of the same title “I Look To You”, featured lyrics describing a Houston that, at rock bottom, saw God’s Grace and could now carry on.  The CD listening premiere at an invitation only Clive Davis event at Jazz at Lincoln Center in which Ms. Houston spoke, gave everyone hope for a comeback by an artist who dominated R&B and pop charts through much of the 80’s and 90’s.

But limited engagements, including a shaky Good Morning America Central Park performance, signaled trouble.   Was she healthy?  Were her vocal chords damaged?   A tour beginning in Europe failed and was immediately postponed.  Rumors of illness and continued substance abuse quietly reappeared in media reports.  And on the afternoon of February 11th in Los Angeles we lost an icon.
Why do people with so many gifts fall so hard?   After all, Whitney Houston was raised in a Newark Church, with an award winning Gospel singing mom.   What is it about talent and success that sometime overwhelm?
Whitney Houston joins the ranks of so many before her.  Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway, Teena Marie, Rick James, Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Hendrix, Frankie Lymon and too many others who left us young and with no warning.
Perhaps we put too much pressure on those who are creative, gifted, yet at times fragile, insecure and overworked.   Sometimes those who have the most fans and followers don’t feel they have true “friends” to lean on when times get tough.

I’ve heard audio clips in which a very tired Jimmy Hendrix said if he could have anything, it would be “8 hours of uninterrupted sleep”.   Many remember the interview of girl R&B group TLC who had to admit after selling millions of albums that they were “broke”.   A Michael Jackson who spent a good part of his amazing, yet at times tragic life trying to relive the childhood he lost along with so many other stories of success gone wrong.
I don’t know about you but at this point I don’t want to hear about the end of Whitney Houston’s life.  The tabloids, blogs and Hollywood gossip TV shows can take a hike as far as I’m concerned.   I prefer to remember the Whitney Houston I had a crush on in college, an unstoppable Whitney Houston of HUGE, proud accomplishments including:
*2 Emmy Awards
*4 Number One albums in America
*6 Grammy Awards
*11 number One songs
*22 American Music Awards
*Roles in hit movies including the Body Guard, Preachers Wife and Waiting To Exhale.   (she also recently completed filming for a role in the remake of the 1976 film classic, “Sparkle”).
*The music video icon with some of the most watched “premieres” in the history of MTV.
*Whitney Houston’s rendition of the National Anthem in 1991 during “Superbowl XXV”, considered by many to be among the greatest “Star Spangled Banner” performances ever.  It was re-released after the September 11th 2001 attacks and hit top 10 on both the U.S. and Canadian charts.  Ms. Houston donated her share of the proceeds and royalties to the firefighters and families of the victims of 9/11.

During this time the best thing we can do is remember the gifts Ms. Houston left all of us through her music.  She made many people in the music industry and around her materially wealthy but we her fans were the most fortunate.   And, Bobbi Christina, Cissy Houston and the Houston/Brown family must remain in our Prayers!

 

Music From The Soul

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Ashford and Simpson

Ashford and Simpson

The passing of Nick Ashford on August 22nd at 70-years-old brings back memories of the days of great songwriting from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s that artists built their careers on.

     Nick Ashford along with his long time writing partner and later wife Valerie Simpson, wrote songs that did more than become “hits” of the moment; these songs became standards of R&B and Pop still sung over and over from re-makes and commercials, to American Idol.
Although Ashford & Simpson began writing independently, it was a chance to join Motown and their amazing roster of artists that gave them a chance to jump into the history books.
     Here is just a partial list of what these two amazing individuals wrote together and the artists who made them famous:
  • Glady’s Knight & The Pips:    Didn’t You Know You’d Have to Cry Sometime, Taste Of Bitter Love, Bougie Bougie.
  • Smokey Robinson & The Miracles:       Who’s Gonna Take The Blame
  • Marvin Gaye/Tammie Terrell:     Your Precious Love, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing, You’re All I Need To Get By,
  • Diana Ross:    Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.
     The Duo eventually wanted to record some of their own music but Motown Execs weren’t receptive to the idea (surprising given both had great looks and would eventually develop excellent stage presence) so they eventually set out on their own.
Into the 70’s and 80’s Ashford & Simpson adapted well to the changing sound of R&B.   Their own hits included “disco” flavored songs like Found A Cure and It Seems to Hang On.   Love Ballads were a specialty including Send It, Is It Still Good To You and Happy Endings.   But it was probably the early 80’s that best proved this “dynamic duo” worthy of inclusion among the greats.  The songs Street Corner and chart-topping crossover hit “Solid” were favorites of not only radio and clubs, but street DJ’s who mixed and remixed those two records at a time when the sounds of the streets including rap were beginning to influence R&B.
     Ashford & Simpson’s songs were unique in that they went deep into love, long-term commitment and human emotion.   There were catchy hooks, but also a sense of purpose, structure and redemption, a far cry from the “quick sex/quick break up/no good man” songs we’ve become all too used to from many of today’s popular song-writers and producers.   And Ashford & Simpson were not afraid to make a statement in their songs with one of their finest examples, I’m Every Woman, performed by both Chaka Khan and later Whitney Houston who’s rendition wound up on the soundtrack of the box office hit, “The Bodyguard”.
     Nick Ashford was born in South Carolina, raised in Michigan and attended college for a short time at Eastern Michigan University before moving to New York to earn a living as a dancer.   In 1964 after hitting hard times Mr. Ashford wound up seeking help at Harlem’s White Rock Baptist Church where he first encountered Valerie singing in the choir.   They sold a batch of songs together later that year, kicking off a long career including a marriage in 1974 and numerous ventures including hosting a daily top-rated radio show for several years and ownership of two club-restaurants including NYC’s popular “Sugar Bar”.
     These two seemed to find success at every turn and we as music lovers were the better for it.
     Rest in peace Nick Ashford. Thank you!