Whitney Houston

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (born August 9 1963 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American Pop, R&B, Soul and Gospel singer, songwriter, record producer, film producer and actress. She was one of the most popular and successful singers of the

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (born August 9 1963 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American Pop, R&B, Soul and Gospel singer, songwriter, record producer, film producer and actress. She was one of the most popular and successful singers of the 1980s and 1990s, receiving multiple Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, two Emmy Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, and an MTV Movie Award. Her vocals are considered to be some of the best ever among pop singers, influencing singers such as Monica, SWV and Brandy.

Whitney's mother (Cissy Houston), first cousin (Dionne Warwick) and Godmother (Aretha Franklin) were all established Gospel/R&B/Soul singers, which caused her to always be around the presence of music while she was growing up. At the age of 11, she started performing as a soloist in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist church in Newark, New Jersey, and would later go on to accompanying her mother in concert. Although a Baptist, she attended a Catholic high school. After appearing on her mother's 1978 album, Think It Over, she started as a backing singer for many other established acts, such as Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson, and Lou Rawls. At the age of 16, she was featured as the lead vocalist on the Michael Zager Band's single, "Life's a Party" in 1978. In the early-1980s, she started appearing as a model in various magazines (and even appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine.) In 1982, she made her first recording as a featured vocalist with the Jazz-Funk ensemble, Material. The song is called "Memories" and was featured on the group's album, One Down.