MY THOUGHTS ON WHITNEY HOUSON AND DON CORNELIUS TWO MUSICAL LEGENDS
Posted on February 12, 2012 with 0 commentsHey everybody,
This is ROB Rise On Belief, coming at you in shock and disbelief of the death of Whitney Houston. I was in the recording studio working on my new single for my album, when I got a phone call from my mom. She said, Rob, Whitney Houston passed away. At first I didn't believe her because me and my grandmother was just looking at her picture in Essence magazine and she looked beautiful. But I also noticed a sadness in her eyes, which made me think something was wrong. I guess I wasn't really surprised she past, instead I was devastated.
I grew up listening to her music. She was like a friend/sister/cousin to me. Her music has played a big role in my life. She was always played in our home, my mom was a big fan. She was played at family gatherings, clubs, weddings, parties you name the place, her music was played there. Her music reminds me of one my first girlfriends. I remember break dancing to her song "I'm Thinking About You". That was an underground hit. Her rendition of THE STAR SPANGLE BANNER MADE ME PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN. I Will Always Love You and I Have Nothing gives me chills to this day. I'm Every Woman is a club classic. The remixes of that song will have you dancing all night long. Every song she has made takes me back to the exact place and time in my life. And those were some good times. Her music also reminds me of some my family members who have past away. My aunts Debby and Vionne were big fans of Whitney. Every time I hear one of her songs they bring back fond memories of my aunts.
Not only did Whitney have a powerful voice, she also had amazing stage presence. Very few artist like Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Sade, Freddie Mercury and ROB Rise On Belief have the power to command the stage. Even during her rough times she still had stage presence. Artist of today do not have the ability to command a stage. Take away all their dancers, special affects, sex appeal, computer gimmicks and leave them to perform with just them and their band and you will have a dull show. They would not know how to command the stage with out their affects. Whitney was one of those artist who never needed gimmicks, her raw talent was enough to keep you intrigued.
Whitney was truly a great entertainer of her time and the current time. Her music influenced many artist. If you are a male or female singer you learned from her style of singing. I know I have learned some of Whitney style. She always put her heart and soul in her music. She was not only a gracious entertiner but she always looked glamourous. Glamour was her signature, that was her sex appeal. I wish some of these female artist of today realize you don't always have to look trampy to have sex appeal. Sometimes looking like a lady gives a man something to fantasize about.
The one thing I wish Whitney would have protected her self from and that is the Demon of this industry DRUGS!!! I am not going to dwell on this but this is a terribly reality in this industry. Whether it be Illegal or prescription drugs they get you hooked on these drugs and take advantage of you. This is why I do not take drugs of any kind and I Don't drink alcohol. I want to be in control of my musical destiny. Every time and entertainer gets hooked on drugs they lose their property, dignity, control and life. As in the case of Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Amy Whinehouse.
The music world has lost two power influences and entetainers in the industry. Whitney Houston and Don Cornelius. Not only has the industry lost these amazing people, the African American community has lost great talented people as well and during black history month. This is a terrible blow to R&B Soul Music. This makes me wonder who will take their place. There are supposed to be artists of today who who are groomed to take the place of the ones we lost. There are very few R&B singers of today that can keep that essence of Soul Music Alive. I hope I Can keep that soul essence alive in my brand of rock music.
We need to teach the musical youth of the today to listen to Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Aretha, Chaka Khan, Jeffery Osbourne, Billie Holiday, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Jimi Hendrix, Nat King Cole, Stevie Wonder and the list goes on. That way they will learn how to make timeless muisc and keep the dream of Soul R&B music alive. Some of these artist I have mention has music that is relevant to this day.
Yes, we lost a graceful, talented galmourous entertainer, but I would like to thank Whitney Houston for being a musical friend and bringing me years of joy, laughter, good times, loving times, family times and healing times. GOD BLESS YOU WHITNEY. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. And Don Cornelius, a visionary in African American Television for making my Saturdays some of the best family days of my life and for making me proud to be an AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN. Afro Sheen All the way. I'll keep on riding that SOUL TRAIN. Whitney Houston and Don Cornelius, may you both find peace.
ROB RISE ON BELIEF