As the world continues to mourn the death of multi-platinum recording artist and actress Whitney Houston, who was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel Saturday, artistes and music industry insiders across the globe reflected on her accomplishments.
It was no different in Antigua & Barbuda as members of the entertainment fraternity expressed shock and sadness at her passing.
“That one was a real shocker,” Chezekake Factory lead singer Jashan Hughes told OBSERVER.
“It was really unexpected. I know everybody has to go at some point in life but you just never think that musical legends like Etta James and Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston would ever pass on because they kind of come over like immortal ‘cause they’re just so good.
“I think she’s a legend and I know that her music will live on and she’s one of the artistes who definitely inspired people like me.”
Antiguan promoter Roger Perry said for him she earned the title as the queen of pop.
“For somebody to have sold over 175 million albums, that is a great achievement,” he said.
“And she was one of the few artistes who brought whites and blacks together to listen to her music because her music was just a crossover.”
Perry added, “I think the music world and the music industry is really going to miss a stalwart in the business.”
Musician and producer Gavin Christopher said the songstress was a childhood influence of his.
“I don’t think that I ever really heard a voice quite like hers, in terms of the sweetness and harmonics of her voice,” he said. “It is a sad day for music worldwide.”
Antiguan soca star Tian Winter, meantime, said he felt a loss upon hearing of her passing.
“She was a great artiste; she was an icon and she really changed the face of music,” he said. “I want people not to focus on the negative. Everybody has done things (of which they are not proud),” he added, referring to the media’s coverage of Houston’s history of drug abuse.
The normally jovial occasion of the Grammy Awards, held yesterday, was eclipsed by the sad news of the superstar’s untimely death.
Police and fire officials were called to the 48-year-old’s Houston Beverly Hilton Hotel suite at 3:43 pm, after her bodyguard found her unconscious. Medics tried, but failed to resuscitate the star and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 pm.
Throughout her career, Houston earned six Grammys, 22 American Music Awards and sold over 170 million albums and singles. She was also an actress starring in The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.
In the midst of a comeback, Houston’s career was marred by a well-publicised struggle with substance abuse and a tumultuous 14-year marriage to singer Bobby Brown.
Houston leaves to mourn her daughter Bobbi Christina Brown and mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston.
(Source http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=71125)
