biography

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born August 9th, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Cissy Houston, a well known rhythm-and blues singer, and cousin of Dionne Warwick. Whitney has been singing since her days as a member of the New Hope Baptist Junior Choir in Newark where she was a Soloist at the age of eleven. Her career started in her teens when she was a backup singer for the likes of Chaka Khan, Lou Rawls, as well as her mother. She also pursued a career as a model during that time. Whitney's first introduction to a pop hit came in 1984 on a duet with Teddy Pendergrass Called "Hold Me", which became a hit for Whitney.

She signed with the Arista Label in 1983 and her debut LP "Whitney Houston" was released two years later. Her first single "You Give Good Love" went to Number 3 on the Charts, and was followed by three number 1 hits: Saving All My Love For You, How Will I Know, and The Greatest Love of All. The LP went on to sell over 22 million copies worldwide. She also won two American Music Awards for Favorite Soul R&B Single and favorite Soul R&B Video that same year. In 1986, she won 5 more American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Vocalist and LP, and Favorite Soul R&B Female Vocalist, LP and Video Single. She also received her first Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance as well as a MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video.

Whitney's second LP, Whitney (1987), continued her winning streak of Number 1 hits, not only on the pop charts but with R&B adult contemporary lists as well. The LP went on to sell over 19 million copies worldwide as well as numerous awards for the beautiful and talented performer.

In between making music, she formed the Whitney Houston Foundation For Children in 1989. The non-profit organization works to assist a variety of children's issues including homelessness, cancer, AIDS, and youth self-empowerment.

In July 1992, Whitney married singer/rapper Bobby Brown and had a daughter, Bobbie Kristina a year later. Whitney decided to change her professional attention by focusing on a movie career. She starred opposite Kevin Costner in "The Bodyguard". The movie grossed over $500 million worldwide and the soundtrack became one of the best-selling LPs of all time, selling over 34 million copies worldwide.

Whitney's movie/music combination continued in 1995 with her role in "Waiting To Exhale." Several of her songs were featured on the soundtrack. The movie and soundtrack was met with great success, it went on to sell over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. That same year she was also inducted into the Soul Train Hall of Fame and was honored by VH-1 for her humanitarian work.

Her career includes other films such as "The Preachers Wife" opposite Denzel Washington and the TV movie "Cinderella". Since her debut in 1985, Whitney has risen through the ranks of pop diva to a level of musical respect few artists can claim internationally. She has become the Biggest Selling Female Artist of all Time with Worldwide Album/singing sales of over 145 million and counting.