August 9, 1963 - February 11, 2012
While Teena Marie (which I wrote about here) was my all-time favorite singer, Whitney Houston was definitely a close second along with Aretha Franklin (her aunt), Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole. But Whitney was something special. I fell in love with her and her voice from the moment I heard her belt out “You Give Good Love.” When I heard that she passed away yesterday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, only hours before the Grammy Awards, I can honestly say that I was devastated. She and Teena left us far too early.
I has recently started working at my first adult job at a bank in a rather exclusive enclave of Southern California. Sadly, we only had Muzak being piped in, but thankfully, my manager allowed me to bring in a little tape recorder where we played that song more times than I care to admit. A few short years later Kevin Costner and his then wife Cindy had become customers. Around the time that he had begun filming The Bodyguard, it was my birthday and he had come into the bank and while helping him he asked what I wanted for my big day. Well, instead of saying a small part in his film (and, most importantly, a chance to meet Whitney), I thought this would have been in poor taste, so I chickened out and instead said a date with his Australian au pair, Lisa; which, by the way, was also true. Well, as you can imagine neither ever happened. The au pair wound up quitting and the movie finally wrapped. Talk about missed opportunities.
Trust me, if I had a chance to do it all over again, I would have risked propriety and would have asked for the smallest of roles. So, while I never had the chance to meet Whitney, I like many, still feel that I knew her. She will be more than missed. (All Photos via Google.)
I has recently started working at my first adult job at a bank in a rather exclusive enclave of Southern California. Sadly, we only had Muzak being piped in, but thankfully, my manager allowed me to bring in a little tape recorder where we played that song more times than I care to admit. A few short years later Kevin Costner and his then wife Cindy had become customers. Around the time that he had begun filming The Bodyguard, it was my birthday and he had come into the bank and while helping him he asked what I wanted for my big day. Well, instead of saying a small part in his film (and, most importantly, a chance to meet Whitney), I thought this would have been in poor taste, so I chickened out and instead said a date with his Australian au pair, Lisa; which, by the way, was also true. Well, as you can imagine neither ever happened. The au pair wound up quitting and the movie finally wrapped. Talk about missed opportunities.
Trust me, if I had a chance to do it all over again, I would have risked propriety and would have asked for the smallest of roles. So, while I never had the chance to meet Whitney, I like many, still feel that I knew her. She will be more than missed. (All Photos via Google.)
Wedding Day 1992.
"The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" Premier, Anaheim, CA. (Aug 7, 2004)
At the 21st Annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles (July 2, 1994)
1999: 13th Annual Soul Train Music Awards.
With Kevin Costner at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV in Scottsdale, AZ. (April 2008)
At Clive Davis's Pre-Grammy Party in Beverly Hills, CA. (Feb. 7, 2009)
21st Annual Grammy Awards at The Staples Center, Los Angeles. (Feb. 8, 2009)
R.I.P.: August 9, 1963 - February 11, 2012
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