Rest In Peace To "The Voice"

Whitney Elizabeth Houston

(August 9, 1963-February 11, 2012)

When I heard that Whitney Houston died, at first I didn't believe it. I thought it was a joke because on twitter they kill superstars everyday. But when I get into my friend's car, turned on the radio, and her anthem "Greatest Love Of All" was playing I knew and the radio announcer said "Rest In Peace Whitney". I just got quiet in the car in disbelief and the tears began to fall. We all knew that Whitney was dealing with personal demons, but you never thought it would end like this. But GOD was ready for her and she is doing so much better than we are, she doesn't have to deal with this crazy world anymore.

This tragic situation really hit home for me because the Friday before she died, I was at work and I said "I feel like listening to some Whitney for these last two hours". So, for two hours I was listening to songs like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", "Lover For Life", and my personal favorite "Where Do Broken Hearts Go". These songs in my opinion were "cheesy" but Whitney made them awesome with her live performances. As a result, I have a lot live performances on my Whitney playlist. And on those live performances Whitney was SANGING. That's why she was called "The Voice".

I first heard Whitney Houston by my aunt when she lived in Long Island. She used to play Whitney Houston and Anita Baker. My family knew Whitney, but my family was more into the old soul. But at the age of 7, I knew Whitney Houston for the myself. In 1991, she did the national anthem for the Superbowl, which is consider one of the greatest time in history. In elementary school, we had to say the Star-Spangled Banner, but my school always played Whitney's Superbowl version. From that moment, I was introduced to "The Voice". Even though, Whitney wasn't in heavy rotation at my house, but she was played. I just remember one day I was looking through my family's 45 collection, and I remember coming across Whitney's "How Will I Know"33RPM record. She just looked so cheezy but when those vocals began all of that went out the window. From that moment, I began to listen to her more. By 1997, Whitney became was one of my favorite SANGERS of all time. When I mean SANGERS, I am referring to singers like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and Patti Labelle. So, with Whitney dying you feel like something is missing from the music industry. Even though, "The Voice" was gone years ago because of her personal demons but Whitney was always relevant in the music world, just like Michael Jackson who died 2 years ago.

At first, I didn't want to do a blog on Whitney because I felt it would be tough but listening to her music and performances non-stop for the past couple of days, I knew it would only be right to show RESPECT the one of the best of all time.

In closing, I just want to give my prayers to Whitney's family especially Bobby Christina, her daughter. She is the person that is the most affected by this. Pray that GOD puts his shield around her and protect her.

MY TOP 10 PERFORMANCES

10) I LOOK TO YOU (WITH KIM BURRELL)

These two powerful voices definitely let the lord have his way

9) AIN'T NO WAY (WITH MARY J. BLIGE)

This was a classic duet these ladies SANG

8) BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER (WITH CECE WINANS)

CECE in my opinion is the only own that can go "toe to toe" with the Whitney

7) SAVING MY LOVE FOR YOU IN 1991 ON TOUR

The background vocals just helped put this song into overdrive

6) ALL THE MAN I NEED AT THE ARESNIO HALL SHOW

She murdered the vocals on this especially at bridge..watch magical

5) PORGY, AND IM TELLING YOU, I HAVE NOTHING AT 94 AMA

Whitney killed this Medley and did it effortlessly

4) DIDN'T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL IN 1988

Whitney had this crowd in her pawn of her hands with her voice

3) ONE MOMENT IN TIME AT 1989 GRAMMYS

Magical is the only word

2) ALL AT ONCE AT THE 1987 AMAS

She made this look so easy, but nobody can touch her

1) GREATEST LOVE OF ALL AT 15 ANNIVERSARY OF ARISTA

The best Whitney Performance in opinion of all time

There is a lot of Whitney performances that are classic but these are my top ten. Just listen to the performances so Whitney can take you on a ride with those vocals.

REST IN PEACE  "THE VOICE" YOU MUSIC WILL LIVE ON



SAM COOKE

Portrait of A True Legend

Sam Cooke in my opinion is the "King of Soul". Sam Cooke is the reason for many of our great artists of yesterday and today. Sam Cooke has been an inspiration for old school artists like Aretha Frnaklin, Marvin Gaye, and Tina Turner. As well as the new school artists like Tyrese, Usher, and Ne-Yo. Sam Cooke was soulful and classy at the same time. With songs, like Cupid, You Send Me, and my late grandfather's personal favorite Wonderful World. Cooke's music is timeless and memorable, as a result I felt that if I didn't a blog on him, my grandfather would be angry. So, granddaddy this one is for you.

Sam Cooke started his singing in church with the group "The Soul Stirrers". However, during this teenage years he wanted to be a soul singer. As a result, he started to make soul music under an alias. Finally, by 1957 he decided that soul music was in his heart, so he stop singing with the group and went solo. In 1958, he released his first single, You Send Me. Then the hits just kept coming including Chain Gang, Sad Mood, and Twisting the Night Away. By this time, Cooke was a big star, but when there is happiness there is also pain. In 1963, his son died when he was 8 months because he drowned in the pool. This cause Cooke into a deep depression, which helped him write one of the greatest songs of all time A Change is Gonna Come. He recorded the song, but never got to hear it because in 1964, Cooke was shot and killed. Even though, his death stirred a lot of controversy, you can't take away Cooke's great music. I felt that this blog had to be done, because just like Mary J. Blige, Sam Cooke is also a part of my family.

When I was younger, Sam Cooke was played in my house. When you look at our record collection, you realize the artists that my grandparents like because they brought a lot of them, Sam Cooke was one of them. Every Friday is family time, so the music and the drinks starts flowing. So, my mother would always start with request, my grandfather would be the first person to say "I want to hear Sam Cooke, "Don't know much about history", however the song title was Wonderful World. As a kid, I would just imagine Cooke singing this in front of us because on the record he sounded so cool, in today's world he had swag. When I got older, I started to watch live performances of him, just like I thought he was cool and soulful.

One Friday, my mother and I was going through our music collection and she pulled out the "Sam Cooke: Live At The Copa" album. I recalled her saying, "Get your drink ready, we are going to sit down and listen to this straight through". After the album finished, I understood the definition of class and soul, because during this live album he brought both. As a result, this album is in my top 10 albums of all time. In addition to "Live At The Copa", my mother played A Change is Gonna Come. This was my first time hearing it, I couldn't get through the song without crying . I was only 14, I didn't really know why I was crying, but later I realized that the song is so real, you can tell in Cooke's voice. Today, I still can't get through this song without crying. This is what you call a song for the ages because we can all relate to it. For example, when Barack Obama won the presidency, that song played all day because in the world's eyes a change did come. The world finally got to see a African American president.

In addition, when my grandfather was in his last days, my mother would play Sam Cooke from her phone and put it to his ear so he can listen when he sleep. When you looked at him sleep with Sam Cooke playing in his ear, he seemed so peaceful. Now, that my grandfather has passed on, I know he is at a Sam Cooke concert in heaven.

                           THANKS MR. COOKE FOR YOU GREAT MUSIC

Three of my favorite Sam Cooke songs

A Change is Gonna Come

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48K5Y0421Ig

A Wonderful World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNO72aCnVr0&feature=related

Sad Mood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY9Eb0tZZkA