ARTIST

Whitney Houston

For the past decade the U.S. pop charts have been dominated by a succession of producer-driven divas who offer a mix of easy-listening pop, creamy R&B, and a dash of the latest dance rhythms. Whitney Houston's 1985 debut not only provided the blueprint for this genre, it also introduced one of the format's most consistently successful practitioners.

The daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and the cousin of Dionne Warwick, child singer/model/actress Whitney was signed as a teenager by Arista Records head Clive Davis, who matched her with a team of veteran songwriters and producers, including Nadara Michael Walden and Kashif. The resultant chart-topping debut, Whitney Houston, spawned three number one hits, including a cover of George Benson's "The Greatest Love Of All."

An attempt to repeat the formula resulted in 1987's far less satisfying Whitney, but the album still earned Houston three more number one singles. She returned three years later with the New Jack Swing-laced I'm Your Baby Tonight, which failed to hit number one but still sold well. In 1992, Houston married singer Bobby Brown, beginning a relationship dogged by rumors of infidelity and abuse, which also produced a daughter, Bobbi, in 1993.

Eight years passed between Houston's last proper album, I'm Your Baby Tonight, and her next full album, 1998's My Love Is Your Love. All releases in between were tie-ins with her films. She essentially played herself opposite Kevin Costner in 1992's The Bodyguard and was universally panned, but a cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" from the movie became her biggest hit to date.

Houston got marginally better reviews for her performance in 1995's Waiting To Exhale, but once again scored a number one hit, "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," from the soundtrack. However, 1996's The Preacher's Wife brought her praise for both her acting and gospel-rooted soundtrack contributions. Still, music seemed to be a secondary goal to Hollywood success for Houston, whose imitators took over rule of the charts. Perhaps Houston's return with My Love Is Your Love will give them a little competition.

Written by Dan Leroy