Whitney Houston, The #11 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Three

 

(Continued from Part Two)

Whitney starred with Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard, which grossed $121 million in the United States and over $410 million worldwide, and at the time secured a place in the top 100-grossing films of all-time.  But the soundtrack, with Whitney acting as co-executive producer, did even better.  Costner wanted to have Houston record a cover of a Dolly Parton song and while Whitney was on board, Costner had to convince Davis that it was the right choice.

"I said, 'This is a very important song in this movie.'  I didn't care if it was ever on the radio.  I didn't care," Costner told Country Music Television.  "I said, 'We're also going to do this a cappella at the beginning,' he continued.  "I need it to be a cappella because it shows a measure of how much she digs this guy - that she sings without music."

Houston's version "I Will Always Love You" took the world by storm.  It took off like a rocket, quickly elevating to #1.  Week after week, it remained there, until finally a record-breaking 14 weeks, also set an R&B record at the time with 11 weeks at #1, and topped the Adult Contemporary charts for 5 weeks as well.  Never before had one song dominated those three charts like Whitney did with "I Will Always Love You", The #1 Song of the Rock Era*.

The single has sold over 16 million in the U.S. alone (20 million worldwide), earning Whitney the distinction of being the first woman to reach that total in the U.S.  "I Will Always Love You" went to #1 in every major country in the world and is still the best-selling single of all time by a female solo artist.  Houston captured the Grammy Award for Record of the year for the song.

Whitney again won Favorite Female Musical Performer at the People's Choice Awards.

 Thanks to Houston, "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack also led the way on the Album chart for 20 weeks in the U.S. and went to #1 in every major country.  Whitney's cover of the Chaka Khan song "I'm Every Woman" reached #2 in Canada, #3 in The Netherlands and #4 in the United States and the U.K. and became her seventh career Platinum single.  A 14-year-old Houston sang backup on the original along with her mother Cissy and paid tribute to Khan by yelling "Chaka Khan" at the end.

 

The album has sold over 18 million in the United States and 45 million total, and Houston captured the Grammy for Album of the Year.  She also won a record eight American Music Awards including the Award of Merit, 11 Billboard Music Awards, and a record five World Music Awards.   Another great song, "I Have Nothing", is an amazing effort in its own right.  

Linda Thompson, who previously dated Elvis Presley and who was married to former Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner (now known as Caitlyn), married her songwriting partner David Foster in 1991.  Thompson and Foster teamed up to write this one.

The powerful, passionate performance gave Whitney her 10th #1 Adult hit that also peaked at #3 overall.  It also topped the Canadian chart, reached #3 in the United Kingdom, and sold over two million copies.

Houston won World Music Awards for World's Best-Selling Female Recording Artist of the Era, World's Best-Selling Overall Recording Artist, World's Best-Selling Pop Artist of the Year, World's Best-Selling R&B Artist of the Year and World's Best-Selling American Recording Artist of the Year.

Whitney landed American Music Awards for Favorite Pop (Rock) Female Artist, Favorite Pop (Rock) Album, Favorite Adult Contemporary Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Album, a special Award of Merit and Favorite Pop (Rock) Single and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "I Will Always Love You" while also being nominated for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.

Houston swept the top categories of Album of the Year and Record of the Year (for "I Will Always Love You) while also earning Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for The #1 Song of the Rock Era* and earning a nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance for "I'm Every Woman".

Jud Friedman and Allan Rich, who also wrote "I Don't Have The Heart" for James Ingram, wrote this song inspired by a breakup Rich was going through.   It was approved by Houston, movie director Mick Jackson, and Davis.  

 However, a month later, Jackson called the songwriters to tell them he wanted to use it earlier in the movie when Houston and Costner fall in love, rather than when they're breaking up.  Jackson said he wanted Friedman and Rich to rewrite the lyrics to make it a love song rather than a breakup tune.  They wrote completely different lyrics, keeping only the title from their original composition. 

Houston achieved her 20th career hit with the great song "Run To You", though with a peak of #31, it is another of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.  It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture.

Houston won an incredible 15 Billboard Music Awards for her work on "The Bodyguard":  #1 World Artist, #1 World Single, Hot 100 Singles Artist, Hot 100 Singles Artist-Female, Hot R&B Singles Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top R&B Album, Top Soundtrack Album, Special Awards for the record-breaking 20 weeks at #1 for the album and a record 14 weeks at #1 for "I Will Always Love You", Hot 100 Single, Hot 100 Singles Sales,   Hot R&B Single and Hot R&B Singles Sales for "I Will Always Love You" and she was nominated for Hot Adult Contemporary Artist.  

 Whitney delivered a heart-wrenching scene when she sang "Jesus Loves Me".

Things were going gangbusters for Whitney and the sky really was the limit.  But in 1989, she met Bobby Brown and after three years of being romantically involved, they were married on July 18, 1992.  For Whitney's singing career, and her life, this was the beginning of the end.  Brown constantly got arrested for drunken driving, drugs, and battery.  

On March 4, 1993, Whitney gave birth to daughter Bobbi Brown.  She later toured the world in a blockbuster concert tour that enabled her to rank as the third highest-earning female entertainer of 1993-94 behind only Oprah Winfrey and Barbra Streisand, according to Forbes magazine.

 

In 1994, Houston performed at a state dinner in the U.S. White House honoring newly-elected president Nelson Mandela of South Africa.  She also performed three concerts before over 200,000 people in South Africa to honor Mandela.  She recorded "Look Into Your Heart" for the album A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield.

 Whitney starred in her second movie, Waiting to Exhale, in 1995, about four women struggling with the men in their lives.  The film grossed $81 million worldwide but once again, the soundtrack (produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds) did better.  

The single "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" reached #1 and spent a record 11 weeks at #2 on the Popular chart as well as riding the wave for eight weeks on the R&B chart, went to #1 in Canada, and sold over two million copies.  Whitney earned a Best Female R&B Vocal Performance nomination at the Grammys.  

Babyface, who wrote it for Whitney, said the "Shoop Shoop" in the song happened by accident.  "It felt like it should groove there," he told Billboard.  "But I knew it couldn't groove without any vocals, so I started humming along with it and that's what happened," he continued.  "The 'shoops' came.  But they felt so good.  I thought, 'Why not?'  It doesn't have to mean anything."

 Whitney scored an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.  Houston's duet with CeCe Winans also reached the Top 10 (#4 AC and #8 Popular) and sold over one million copies.  Winans is best known for her songs recorded with brother BeBe.  The duo has won three Grammy Awards and nine Dove Awards for their great gospel recordings.  "Count On Me" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media at the Grammy Awards.

 

The album has sold over seven million copies and earned a Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack Album of the Year.  "Why Does It Hurt So Bad" reached #6 on the important Adult chart.

 Houston then teamed with superstar Denzel Washington for the movie The Preacher's Wife, a role which earned her $10 million.  Whitney recorded and co-produced the soundtrack album, which sold over six million copies.  She turned to the Four Tops for this one, which that supergroup originally recorded in 1982.  "I Believe In You And Me" was another big AC hit at #2 (#4 overall) and went Platinum.

 Houston sang "I Believe In You And Me" on Saturday Night Live on December 14, 1996.  She captured Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist at the American Music Awards for the soundtrack album.  "Step By Step" also went Gold, her 20th RIAA Gold award.

 

The soundtrack won a Billboard Music Award for Top Gospel Album and was nominated for Favorite Soundtrack at the American Music Awards while Whitney earned nominations for Best R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("I Believe In You And Me") at the Grammy Awards.  Whitney sang "I Love The Lord" with the Georgia Mass Choir.

 Whitney recorded another great Diane Warren tune for the album--"You Were Loved".

Part Four is very much a bittersweet story.  Join us exclusively on Inside The Rock Era!

Whitney Houston, The #11 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Continued from Part One)

"Where Do Broken Hearts Go" gave Whitney four #1 hits on the album (3 #1's on the Adult chart), a record-breaking achievement for a female artist.  Further, it was Houston's seventh consecutive #1 song topping the mark set by the Bee Gees, and a record that still stands to this day.  

 

In 1988, Whitney received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from Grambling State University.  "Love Will Save The Day", produced by Jellybean, gave her a fifth Top 10 hit on the album (#5 on the R&B chart and #9 overall).

 Whitney was named Top Pop Singles Artist-Female by Billboard.  On "I Know Him So Well" she teamed up with her mom Cissy for a cover of the song from the movie Chess.

 

The album Whitney has sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. and 20 million worldwide.  Masser and Gerry Goffin, who of course wrote scores of big hits with Carole King, wrote this one for Houston--"You're Still My Man".

"Moment Of Truth" was slated for the album but replaced at the last minute.  It was instead released as the B-side to "I Wanna' Dance With Somebody".

 

Later in the year, she released the album A Very Special Christmas, which included an amazing version of "Do You Hear What I Hear".  It is one of The Top 150 Christmas Songs of All-Time*.

In 1988, Houston and others performed at Wembley Arena in London to celebrate the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela, who was still in prison at the time.  The event drew an audience of over 72,000 and a television audience of over one billion people to raise money for charities and raise public awareness of the evils of apartheid in Africa.

 Whitney recorded "One Moment In Time" for the 1988 Summer Olympics, and it became another huge hit, #1 in the United Kingdom and Germany, and #1 on the Adult chart and #5 overall in the U.S.  The single has sold over one million copies.  It was later used to celebrate baseball's Cal Ripken's breaking of the all-time record for consecutive games played.

Whitney scored a rare double when she was named Favorite Pop (Rock) Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist at the American Music Awards and she earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for "One Moment In Time".  For the third consecutive year, Houston was all alone at the top for Favorite Female Musical Performer at the People's Choice Awards.

The following year, Houston formed The Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, a non-profit group that has raised funds for children around the globe.  The organization helps the homeless, children with cancer or AIDS, and in other situations where they can help people become self-dependent and grow. 

 Houston released the album I'm Your Baby Tonight in 1990, the first in which she co-produced along with help from Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Babyface, and L.A. Reid.  The energetic title song topped the U.S. Popular and R&B charts (#7 on the AC chart) and reached the Top 5 in virtually every country, including a standout five weeks at #1 in Italy.  Whitney was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the Grammys and the single has now sold over four million copies.

The album, again a Top 10 effort in virtually every country in the world, rose to #3 and has sold over four million copies in the U.S. and 10 million around the world.  

  Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford (who wrote songs for the "Footloose" Soundtrack) wrote this for Linda Clifford before Houston recorded it.  Whitney's second single from the album featured her great vocal range, an awesome key change and a sax solo from Kenny G.  "All The Man That I Need" was another triple #1 (after "Saving All My Love For You" and "How Will I Know")--Popular, AC, and R&B in the U.S. that also topped the Canadian chart and went Gold and was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the Grammy Awards.

 

The date of January 27, 1991 is famous for it is the date Whitney performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, Florida.  Her closure of Francis Scott Key's song with an extension of the word "free" was one for the ages.  As Houston approached the high note, she slowed for suspense and air, then nailed the E-flat above middle C.  

Watched by millions on television, Houston's rendition has become what is generally thought to be the best version ever, so popular that the record company was forced to release the song as a single. 

It sold 750,000 copies in eight days and became the highest-charting version of the national anthem, topping the one recorded by Jose Feliciano in 1968 (#50).  Whitney donated her proceeds from the song to the American Red Cross Gulf Crisis Fund and she was named to the Red Cross Board of Governors.

VH1 calls the performance one of the greatest moments on television.  The song was re-released after the  murders on September 11, 2001 and rose to #6 this time, selling over two million copies in the process.  All proceeds from the second release went to firefighters and victims of the heinous action.

 Whitney also performed "America The Beautiful" on that day and it was the flip side to "The Star-Spangled Banner".

 Whitney won Billboard Music Awards for Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album, Top R&B Album Artist and Top R&B Singles Artist and was nominated for Top Album Artist-Female, Top Pop Singles Artist, Top Pop Singles Artist-Female and Top Adult Contemporary Single (for "All The Man That I Need").  "Miracle", about a girl who has an abortion and later regrets it, rose to #4 on the Adult chart and #9 overall.

 Houston also scored five American Music Award nominations:  Favorite Pop (Rock) Female Artist, Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Adult Contemporary Album.  Two of the biggest superstars in history--Whitney and Stevie Wonder--collaborated on "We Didn't Know", which features great orchestrations and jazz chord progressions from Stevie.

 "Feels So Good" doesn't appear on the album but it was the flip side of "I'm Your Baby Tonight".

Whitney received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female with  "I Belong To You".  

Later in 1991, Houston performed for soldiers fighting in the Persian Gulf War and their families in an HBO special called Welcome Home Heroes.  The concert, performed before 3,500 servicemen and women, earned HBO it's best ratings ever.

What happened next lifted Whitney to a level that only a handful of artists have ever achieved.  Join us for Part Three!

Whitney Houston, The #11 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

 "Goosebumps.  This is how angels sing."

"Her voice gives me chills."

"Rest In Peace, Whitney.  Your music is eternal."

"This kind of singer comes once in a lifetime."

"Her singing was effortless. She just opened her mouth and pure power came out."

"My God, this girl could sing."

"Just stunning. Pure, undeniable talent."

"That voice is timeless. Her songs are out of this world."

"I adore this woman. She will never know how her voice and songs gave all of us women hope and courage in times of need."

"The way she sings certain lyrics. The way she belts and her falsetto. It’s absolutely beautiful. She will always be one of the greatest singers in history."

"Your body may have died, but your spirit lives through your voice and all your amazing songs. an inspiration."

"Whitney was not singing, she just put her soul in our hands!"

"One of the top artists of all-time!"

"Greatest voice in human history!"

"She was awesome! What passion and feeling she puts in all of her music! Her effortless change in keys and resilience in her upper register are remarkable."

"Incredible, mind-blowing talent."

"She was the greatest female singer. Her voice was incredible. There will never be another Whitney Houston."

"The greatest voice God ever produced, power, dexterity, tone, passion, beauty, range. perfection..."

"Whitney Houston songs are truly motivational..."

"She'll always be in a league all her own."

"The most incredible vocalist that ever graced this planet...No one can sing like that!"

"May her legacy continue to inspire the next generation....

Rest in peace legend 🙏🙌👏"

"Her voice is so moving. She makes you feel her emotions through song."

"The most beautiful vocals I've heard in my life."

"Whitney is an angel. What a voice. Incomparable."'

"Whitney's talent was out of this world."

"Whitney's voice for me is a reflection of God's presence in a given talent. It's so powerful and medicinal."

"Angels weep when she sings. And so does everyone else."

"She really was the greatest female singer of the past 35 years.  That voice is an extraordinary instrument.  It's unearthly.  Absolutely beautiul."

"What a gift to the world she was. She is missed."

"Sing to me forever, Whitney."

She had great vocal ability in her genes.  But she soon stepped out of the shadow of her famous mother and cousins with a voice that gave us chills.  Music critic Ann Powers of The Los Angeles Times wrote, "[Houston's voice] stands like monuments upon the landscape of 20th century pop, defining the architecture of their times, sheltering the dreams of millions and inspiring the climbing careers of countless imitators", adding "When she was at her best, nothing could match her huge, clean, cool mezzo-soprano."

Whitney Houston was born August 9, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey, daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, who as a member of the Sweet Inspirations sang backup for Elvis Presley, and cousin of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick.  Cissy was good friends with Aretha Franklin, whom Whitney got to meet when her mother took her to a recording studio.  After the horrific 1967 riots in Newark, the family moved to East Orange in New Jersey, but her parents later divorced.

Young Whitney was already exhibiting her gift from God at the age of 11 when she sang solos in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.  Houston's first solo was "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah".  Cissy continued to pass on her knowledge to Whitney, who would sometimes take the stage with her at area nightclubs.  When she was 14, Whitney became a backup singer on the Michael Zager Band's song "Life's A Party", and the following year, she sang backup for Chaka Khan and Low Rawls.

Whitney went to Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell, New Jersey and graduated in 1981.  She was featured on the cover of Seventeen and also appeared in Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Young Miss.  

In 1982, Whitney signed with Tara Productions and sang on the song "Memories" for the group Material.  The following year, Whitney sang lead for one of the songs on a Paul Jabara album.

Gerry Griffith, A& R man at Arista Records, saw Whitney performing with her mother in a New York City nightclub.  He urged label boss Clive Davis to see her.  Davis was immediately impressed and offered Whitney a recording contract.  Houston made her first appearance on national television on The Merv Griffin Show in 1983.

Davis set out to find material and producers for Whitney, and in 1984, she recorded the duet "Hold Me" with Teddy Pendergrass.  The single was a huge hit on the Adult Contemporary chart, reaching #6.  The only Houston song from 1984, it is the only reason Whitney was not nominated for Best New Artist of 1985 at the Grammys.

Producers Jermaine Jackson, Kashif, Narada Michael Walden, and Michael Masser worked with Houston on her self-titled debut album, which was released in 1985.  A nice easy groove provided the background for Whitney to give a hint of what she could do on her next single.  "You Give Good Love" reached #1 on the R&B chart and #3 overall in the U.S. and #7 in Canada and sold over two million copies.

 

The album jumped to #1 for 14 weeks in the U.S. and also hit #1 in Canada, Australia, and Sweden and reached #2 in the U.K., Germany, and Switzerland.  Whitney promoted the album with a series of nightclub dates in the U.S. and performed on late-night television shows.  The single "Saving All My Love For You" topped charts in the United States and the U.K. and also sold over two million copies.

Whitney won Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for "Saving All My Love For You" and was nominated for Album of the Year and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female ("You Give Good Love") at the Grammy Awards.  

Her performance that night also won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.  

Houston opened for Jeffrey Osbourne on a U.S. tour, helping this song become a multi-format smash #1 (Adult Contemporary, Popular, and R&B).  George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam wrote this after meeting when they both performed at a Seattle, Washington wedding.  Soon, that pair began playing clubs in the Northwest and in 1985, enjoyed a hit with "Waiting For A Star To Fall" as the group Boy Meets Girl.

"How Will I Know" became Houston's third consecutive Platinum single and landed at #1 in Canada and #2 in Australia and Sweden.  Whitney won Best Female Video and was nominated for Best New Artist in a Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Whitney's debut album is on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Definitive 200 list.

   

Her cover of the George Benson song "Greatest Love Of All" also hit #1 for three weeks, making Whitney the first female to attain three #1 songs on one album.  The song also reached #1 in Canada and Australia and was her fourth straight Platinum single.

Houston was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year for "Greatest Love of All", resulting in Billboard magazine naming Houston the #1 Artist of the Year and the debut the Album of the Year.  This track from the album never released as a single except in the Netherlands (#5) is another gem, one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.  Co-written by Jeffrey Osbourne, enjoy the awesome "All At Once".

Houston enjoyed a phenomenally-successful international tour, and her debut album has now sold 13 million in the U.S. alone and 22 million worldwide.  She sang a duet with Jermaine Jackson, which was included on his album Precious Moments.  "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful" later appeared on Whitney's Greatest Hits collection.

Whitney won five American Music Awards out of seven nominations, winning Favorite Pop (Rock) Female Artist, Favorite Pop (Rock) Album, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Video Single ("Greatest Love Of All") while also earning nominations for Favorite Pop (Rock) Female Video Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Video Artist.

She won Billboard Number One Awards for New Pop Artist and New Black Artist.  She captured American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Single (for "You Give Good Love") and Favorite Soul/R&B Video ("Saving All My Love For You") and was nominated for Favorite Pop (Rock) Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Video Artist.  and MTV Video Music Award.  She also earned a tie with Madonna for Favorite Female Musical Performer.

USA Today ranked Whitney's appearance on the scene as one of the 25 musical milestones of the last 25 years.  

Houston released the album Whitney in 1987, with Kashif, Walden and Masser once again producing with help from Jellybean Benitez, who had run up a string of highly successful albums.  Upon the album's release Whitney became the first artist in history to debut at #1 in both the United States and U.K., and the first woman to do so in the U.S.  

Merrill and Rubicam, who wrote "How Will I Know", also penned this great song.  "We recorded the song, mixed it, and then George (Merrill) literally ran to the airport with it and met Clive (Davis of Arista Records, who was getting on a plane," Rubicam said.  "And we thought, 'well, best get it to him in person and we'll have more of an impact.  So he took it with him and listened to it on the plane," she added.   

Merrill and Rubicam were going to record it for their 1985 album as Boy Meets Girl if Davis didn't want it for Whitney, but he loved it and Whitney recorded it instead.

"I Wanna' Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" got the album off to a roaring start, racing to #1 in nearly every country and selling an incredible six million copies (her fifth consecutive Platinum single and 10th Gold single of her young career).  It is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*, one of several Whitney would enjoy.  Randy Jackson of the Jacksons played bass synth on the song.

Honors continued to pour in as Houston won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop (Rock) Female Artist and Favorite Pop (Rock) Single.  She won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and earned another nomination for Album of the Year for her sophomore effort and also repeated as Favorite Female Musical Performer at the People's Choice Awards.

In addition to the world's two major markets, the album topped charts in Germany, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and Austria and landed in the Top 10 in every major country in the world.  Whitney won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song at the Grammy Awards, and was also nominated for Album of the Year.  

As Houston was Davis' number one priority at Arista, he was always on the lookout for great songwriters who would write material for Whitney.  Michael Masser, who also was a co-producer on the album, had written "Touch Me In The Morning" for Diana Ross and "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" for Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson, as well as Whitney's earlier hits "The Greatest Love Of All" and "Saving All My Love For You".  

 

Masser contributed "Didn't We Almost Have It All" as well, which went to #1 on both the Popular and AC charts to tie Houston with the Jackson 5 for second place all-time with five straight #1 songs.  It also peaked at #2 in Canada and sold over one million copies.

 

Her world tour was one of the ten top-grossing tours of 1987, and  Whitney's two tours and accompanying tours ranked her #8 among the highest-earning entertainers, according to Forbes magazine. 

Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who wrote hits for Madonna, Heart, the Bangles, Cyndi Lauper and the Pretenders, penned this one after Davis told them he was looking for something uptempo for Whitney.  "So Emotional" also went Gold and is another of the all-time Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* that tied Houston with the Bee Gees for the Rock Era record of six consecutive #1 songs.

She was headed for the stratosphere, a likely place for The #11 Artist of the Rock Era*!