N is for... Nippy

Nippy was Whitney's nickname as she grew up and it is the name she's used for her management company, Nippy Inc. The Nippy News Chronicles is also the title to the newspage of the very best Whitney Houston fan site, The Whitney Worship Page. Definitely worth a visit and the place to get involved in the campaign to hit back on all the bad press that the soul diva has been getting lately.

O is for... Oscars

One of the highlights of the 2000 Oscar show was to be a medley of classic movie songs, directed by Burt Bacharach, and starring Whitney Houston amongst others. However as rehearsals progressed Whitney was suddenly replaced by Faith Hill. Rumours had already been circulating about lack of cohesion during interviews and failures to turn up on time, and suddenly the press were filled with unsupported stories that our Diva was a drug addict and that she had been thrown off the Oscar gig because of it. These allegations have been strenuously denied. Whitney states dental and throat problems as the reason behind her pulling out, and this has been confirmed by all involved. The press however continue to give Whitney a hard time, happy to cite old stories to back up their version of events. One fact can't be denied however. In January Bobby and Whitney were questioned at a Hawaii airport over possession of cannabis. The couple left before Police could investigate and although the authorities have since stated that they would not be pursuing the case (as it's classed as a minor offence), the press have been keen to play up the incident all they can. This is a shame. Perhaps since Whitney has done so much for charity over the years it's time the press and public were a little more charitable in return? Mistakes happen and while we look to our screen and music idols to live a good example, they are only humans too...

P is for... the Prince of Egypt

When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt brought together two outstanding artists who, according to the press, could never work together: Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Produced by Babyface the song is a perfect balance between the vocalists, neither gaining the upper hand and at the same time neither having to hold back. In interviews the pair have laughed and joked about the Diva rivalry that was supposed to exist between them but as Whitney said at the time they had no argument because they had never met. The Prince of Egypt has a stunning soundtrack which as well as the ballad features another favourite artist of mine, the Israeli singer Ofra Haza who tragically died of an AIDS related disease earlier this year.

Q is for... Queen of the Night

One of the most memorable moments in The Bodyguard centre around the rock song, Queen of The Night. Whitney, as Rachel, is playing a surprise gig at a small club and is whipping the crowd up to a frenzy with provocative moves and a costume straight out of Flash Gordon. The song got its own single release in the UK and peaked at no 14 in November 1993.

R is for... Arista Records

Arista Records was founded in 1975 by Clive Davis and had already launched the careers of Billy Joel and Barry Manilow when Davis first saw Whitney Houston on stage. He signed the singer to his label in 1983 but rather than rush her first album he gave her the time to work and develop her voice while he searched around for the best songs and producers for the project. At times the media has given the impression that this deliberate goal of making Whitney an international star is the work of a cold, calculating money-making machine but it's doubtful that Whitney's career would have lasted so long without someone insisting on the best songs and producers to launch it. Seventeen years later and Whitney is still with Arista and honoured Davis at a recent 25th birthday bash for the label...

S is for... Saving All My Love For You

The song that broke Whitney's career in the UK was Saving All My Love For You which climbed to be the Christmas No 1 in the British charts in 1985 having already hit the top spot in the US in October. It's a sophisticated and sexy ballad of forbidden love and is certainly more raunchy than many of the ballads she has recorded since. The song, like The Greatest Love of All, almost never got recorded as Arista supremo Davis was against it. Written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin, Saving All My Love For You was originally recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.

T is for... One Moment in Time

Written for the 1988 Olympic Games, One Moment in Time was a major success in the UK where the song gave Whitney her third British no 1 in September of that year. In the US the song peaked at no 5. One Moment in Time's positive message is easily applied to all walks of life and was included on a special Olympics album of the same name featuring artists such as the Four Tops, the Bee Gees, Kashif and Eric Carmen.

U is for... USA Anthem

Another sporting event which Whitney has been associated with is American Football. She sang the Star Spangled Banner at the 1990 Superbowl. The rendition was such a hit with TV viewers that the song was released on single and made the Billboard Top 20 in March 1991. The b-side was America the Beautiful.

V is for... Volunteering

Whitney has been a volunteer for many charity organisations and taken part in many fund-raising events over the years. She's contributed to the United Negro College Fund, the Children's Diabetes Fund, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and several AIDS-related organizations, and she established the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, a nonprofit organization whose work assists homeless children and children with cancer and AIDS.

W is for... the Preacher's Wife

Released in 1996, The Preacher's Wife is a gentle romantic comedy, starring Denzel Washington as an angel who develops a crush on the wife of Reverend Henry Biggs, played by Courtney B. Vance. The preacher is a workaholic who is neglecting his wife, and the angel has been sent to help. Whitney, as the wife, gives a good performance but this updated version of the 1947 classic, The Bishop's Wife, has perhaps too much to live up too. The original is a favourite of many a Christmas family get-together with Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young in the original roles. The best thing about the new version is the soundtrack, which gives Whitney a chance to connect with her Gospel roots. While the film didn't fare too well, the album went on to become the biggest gospel album of all time and spawned two hit singles in the UK, Step by Step (no 13, December 1996) and I Believe In You And Me (no 16, March 1997).

X is for... eXhale

Waiting To Exhale contains for me, Whitney Houston's best performance in a movie as the professional woman who with three others is not having much luck with their love-life. Whitney plays Savannah Jackson. Her mother is trying to convince her to see an old boyfriend who was married then and still is now. While some criticise the 1995 film for being anti-men and anti black men in particular, the bonding between the four women lifts the film above the run-of-the-mill although some may find the language, especially by Whitney, a little offensive. Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon play the other main roles. The soundtrack features three Whitney songs: Exhale (Shoop Shoop), a no 11 UK hit, Why Does It Hurt So Bad and Count On Me, a duet with CeCe Winans a no 12 UK hit. The album also has songs by Toni Braxton, Chaka Khan, TLC and Faith Evans.

Y is for... the Young Whitney

While growing up Whitney always wanted to be a singer but when she told her mother, she was asked by Cissy if she wanted to sing or be in show business. Isn't it the same thing? Whitney asked. No, was the reply, the business is "low-down". Cissy Houston's experience of that business helped shield her daughter from having a bad start. She advised Whitney not to take the early offers that were made to her but to wait for the right deal. During the early eighties while that deal was being sought Whitney did a lot of fashion modelling, and featured on the covers of US magazines Seventeen and Glamour. However unlike other young stars like Madonna, she did not do anything racy or nude. She also worked on her voice and took dancing lessons. When the deal with Arista arrived Whitney was already well prepared for the task...

Z is for... the Michael Zager Band

The Michael Zager Band are best remembered for their international disco hit, Let's All Chant which appeared in scenes from the creepy, paranormal thriller The Eyes of Laura Mars. What is less well known is that the title track from the band's second album, Life's A Party, features a very young Whitney on lead vocal. It's the earliest lead she recorded and at the time Zager wanted her to sign for Private Stock. Cissy Houston, who was on the same label, advised against it. The song is available on Let's All Chant, a Zager collection but be warned the band were really only a one-hit wonder...

Thanks for reading my A to Z of Whitney Houston. While it's in no way a definitive biography on the world's greatest diva, I have researched the facts widely and hope that they are accurate. If you have any corrections or suggestions for improvement, don't hesitate to email using the contact page. I will be adding news and pictures as time goes by, so please come back often. Thanks for reading!

© April 2000, Alan J Stuart.