Whitney:  On the Wings of Love

by Joann Pettiford Brooker

We mourn the loss of a beautiful songbird – Whitney Elizabeth Houston, known to her family and friends as simply “Nippy”.  A woman of international renown and pride of the African-American community; once again we say goodbye to a legend who is gone too soon.  This is my loving remembrance of Whitney.  I will not focus on her troubles, but more on her triumphs.  And Lord knows she had many triumphs.

Whitney’s music was part of the soundtrack of my life.  Her incredible voice transcends time and she was the voice of a generation.  Her body of music will last a lifetime and many of her songs will go down in music history as classics.  I can tell you that for me Whitney was one the greatest singers of all time.  Rooted in gospel music and part of a famous musical family, her voice was one of two that could actually make me cry – the other voice being that of her godmother, Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.  Not only was Whitney an incredible vocalist/song stylist, she was also a model, an actress and a producer who for a long time ruled the music charts.  She was graceful, poised and stunningly beautiful.  This sista’ had the whole package.  And I cannot believe that I am speaking of Whitney in the past tense. 

I have fond memories of Whitney and clearly remember the first time I saw her perform.  It might have been back in 1983 or 1984 when I went to see Cissy Houston perform at a club in New York City called Sweetwaters.  On background vocals were a young guy and this lovely, very petite young lady.  She sported this short, curly hairstyle and had the most beautiful, delicate features.  During a moment in the show where Cissy introduced the background singers she said “this is my daughter Whitney and she says she wants to be a professional singer, she wants to get in the business”.  Whitney did a solo and the audience just erupted.  At that time I was a young lady myself and was completely mesmerized by Whitney’s incredible voice.  None of us in that audience could believe what we were hearing – this petite, model-looking young lady blowing like there was no tomorrow.  After that show I called a close friend of mine and excitedly told him about this new singer named Whitney Houston.  I was so impressed. That night I got to see a star in the making.  The next thing I knew Whitney took the world by storm!  Her first album “Whitney Houston” was full of hit records – You Give Good Love, Saving All My Love, Greatest Love of All, How Will I Know and Thinking About You.  I must have played that album so much that it was beginning to warp. And, as history shows, she didn’t stop there.  To date, Whitney has sold over 150 million records; some say over 200 million.  But you do the research and check out all the facts and figures.  Either way, millions of people all over the world loved them some Whitney. 

Saturday, February 11, 2012 was my birthday and the day Whitney left this earth.  I suppose for the rest of my life I won’t forget the day that Whitney got her wings and went home to God.  It’s on my birthday how can I forget?  As I write this remembrance it’s not even two days since she passed and I am still crying but smiling at the same time.  I’m smiling because I believe in God and know that Whitney is at peace with her maker.  I’m smiling because I am part of a generation that fell in love with her and was blessed with her gift.  I’m smiling because for the rest of my life I get to listen to all the great music that Whitney left for us – it remains. Isn’t that great?  I use to call her a BAP, which is a Black American Princess. Which she was, you know?  Coming from Newark, New Jersey and making it all the way to the top of the world music arena is a great accomplishment.  In all her videos she looked beautiful, she was poised and classy and sweet.  She was one special person. 

No one will live this life and not have some type of hardships – no one will escape that.  And we all know that Whitney had her fair share.  I don’t know why Whitney is gone from us at only 48 years old.  But one thing I know for sure is we need to live life to the fullest, do the things that fill us with joy and make us happy.  Love one another today because as the saying goes, tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  Lets learn something from our sista’ Whitney’s passing.  And let’s lift up in prayer her daughter Kristina, her mother Cissy, her two brothers Gary and Michael and the rest of her family.  If we fans are feeling this grief, imagine what her family is going through.  I know it is very difficult for all of them at this time. 

I say farewell to a beautiful Black woman, one whom I will never forget.  Thank you songbird for all the great music – I love you!  Fly Nippy! :)

I was on Facebook when I first read that Whitney Houston had died. I was hoping it was another one of those fake hoaxes, but when I saw it on Reshonda’s page, I knew it was the truth. I immediately turned to CNN and watched footage after footage about Whitney. Whitney’s only 5 years older than me so I feel like we grew up together; via her music; although I didn’t know her personally. My heart goes out to her daughter, family and fans who loved her.

I simply adored Whitney. She inspired my book about an R & B singer making a comeback.  Her beautiful voice and spirit will be missed.

Last night, Jennifer Hudson did a tribute to Whitney at the Grammy’s.

Here’s Whitney. One of my favorite songs by her.

What is your favorite Whitney song?

Jackie Collins will be on The Talk today so I decided to post this original blog post from last year when I was talking about my book Hollywood Deception.

Hollywood Deception and Why Jackie Collins is My Shero by Shelia M Goss

Hollywood Deception is not just about the glamorous life of a celebrity but it also deals with the downside of Hollywood fame and fortune. My editor says it best:

Shelia addresses with understanding and clarity, the serious, and ever-growing crime of stalking (in fact, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice, in 2005-2006 3.4 million people in this country reported being stalking victims). Readers will be engaged by her believable and fully developed characters.

Now to the second topic in my blog title: Jackie Collins cleverly writes about the “real” life of a celebrity. She gives readers the raw version. The real deal. She’s my shero because she has a way of drawing readers in. Her books are drama-packed, fast-paced, entertaining, yet enlightening. She never skips a beat. Once you pick up one of her books, you don’t want to put the book down until the end and even then you’re aching for another Jackie Collins story. When several readers said to mel–”You’re like the Black Jackie Collins,” I was surprised; however, I take it as a compliment. Why? Because I’m a huge fan of her work and if my books can do for readers what her books do for me, then I must be doing something right. I absolutely love and have a fascination with Hollywood and like my shero Jackie Collins, I love writing about it.

Shelia M Goss is the national best-selling author of six multi-cultural romance novels: Hollywood Deception (2010), His Invisible Wife, My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Paige’s Web, Double Platinum and and three young adult books: The Lip Gloss Chronicles series: The Ultimate Test, Splitsville, and Paper Thin. For more information, visit her website: www.sheliagoss.com or www.thelipglosschronicles.com

Tanna Frederick is starring as a dog in the title role in “Sylvia” at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.

Why did you choose this role?
People have always told me to play this part, Sylvia, as long as I can remember…ever since I did another play by A.R. Gurney. I had never actually read the play or seen it. Just been told I would be perfect for it. New Years Eve I had my annual party, and I was in the grumpiest mood. I had withdrawals from not doing any stage since ‘Just 45 Minutes from Broadway’ had closed. After you run a play over 200 times, it’s in your blood and you’re used to going to the theatre every weekend, and then having ended it, I felt homesick in a strange way. A friend of mine, Cathy Arden, came to the party and had been in tears all day. She was playing the part of Kate in ‘Sylvia’ and she had been rehearsing for for weeks, but there was an issue with the actress playing Sylvia and the production was at a standstill. I jumped on the chance to play the part, I had always wanted to step into a show and have to put it up in a little amount of time-and the next day we started rehearsing and put the show up in twelve days. It was an amazing experience, and it’s a joy to do. The other actors were incredible and supportive and Gita Donovan the director was fantastic and finessed me right into the show.

Had you seen the original play before auditioning?
Nope! I was really glad I didn’t, because I was able to develop a great character based on my own pup, Garbo. She’s a cantankerous, lovable, stubborn, beautiful Shiba Inu, and I loved the fact that my preparation for the role was hanging out with her more!

Do you prefer plays or movies? Why or Why not?
Neither one can be fully experienced without experiencing the other…It’s such a necessity to do both-
the energy being returned to you in theatre from a live audience is incredible, learning to go with that energy and shift that energy and react off that energy. That’s something you don’t get with film, which is far more static. But then with film there’s those subtle nuances which you learn to mine without going over the top emotionally or physically, and those moments and that work is really necessary and difficult to get from the stage. But when you put the two together, the largess of theatre and the quick subtlety of film, you have a magical creative palate to chose from and can work everything into both mediums. It’s lovely. I love learning. I never stop learning something absolutely new every day. I’m so very, very thankful to have the opportunity to shift between both.

What’s next for you?
‘Just 45 Minutes…’ was filmed in Oct. We used the original cast and also pulled in Judd Nelson as the love interest, and it was so interesting to shoot. We had run the play so long I was worried there would be a flatness to our work, but I’ve seen the dailies and there is such a richness and delicious levels bursting out onto the film…I can’t wait to see the final product. It will probably be released Fall 2011. I’m also getting ready to film another movie, and looking forward to my annual Project Save Our Surf Fundraiser 2011: Surf 8 to 8, a twelve hour surfathon to raise money for Heal the Bay, which will be in Santa Monica this year on June 25th.

More about the play and how you can get tickets:

In this 1995 comedy by A.R. Gurney (“Love Letters,” “The Dining Room”), Greg and Kate are empty-nesters in the big city. On a walk in the park, Greg is adopted by Sylvia, a bouncy, frisky poodle mix. But Kate comes to feel that she is losing Greg to his adoring new best friend who just loves to be petted, scratched, and talked to. This imaginative twist on Greg’s midlife crisis leads to lots of laughs and some thoughtful insights into the nature of love, marriage, jealousy, and dogs.

Gita Donovan directs a cast that includes Cathy Arden, Frank Dooley, Steve Howard and Tanna Frederick (who recently completed work on a 10-month run in Henry Jaglom’s play “Just 45 Minutes From Broadway” and starred in his 2010 films “Irene in Time” and “Queen of the Lot”).

WHAT: ‘Sylvia,” a comedy.
WHO: Written by A.R. Gurney. Directed by Gita Donovan. A Sierra Madre Playhouse
production.
WHERE: Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Abundant
free municipal parking behind theatre.
WHEN: January 14- February 19, 2011. Fri. & Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. Dark on Sunday, January 16. The Gala Opening Night performance on January 14 will be preceded by a Champagne reception and light buffet at 7:15 p.m.
ADMISSION: $20. Seniors (65+) and students (13-17), $17. Children 12 and under, $12.
RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION: (626) 355-4318.
ONLINE TICKETING: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org

Interview by Shelia M Goss. Freelance writer and national best selling author of Hollywood Deception, Double Platinum, Delilah, Savannah’s Curse and more. www.sheliagoss.com  

Click on the image below to open the online magazine. Within the pages are interesting articles. At the end of some of the articles, there are questions. Be sure to leave your comments about the articles back on this blog post and be automatically entered in the three March contests. The more comments you have on the contest posts, the better chances you have of winning.

The interview everyone has been talking about:

I’m sure you’ve read by now that R & B Singer Chris Brown alleged beat his singer girlfriend Rihanna. No it’s not fiction, but real-life drama dealing with domestic violence.  When I first heard about the situation with Chris and Rihanna, I was shocked; but I shouldn’t have been because you can never look at an abuser and see that he is an abuser. Abusers have a way of showing the world one side and the one they are involved with their dark side.

I have to say that like Wrigley suspending Chris from their ads, I too will have to suspend  Chris from my teen site.  Most of the teen girls I know love Chris Brown. Although, celebrities shouldn’t be looked at as role models, reality is, a lot of them are. Hearing about this situation has really hurt some teens.  The only positive thing about the situation is that it has opened up dialogue about domestic violence.

It is never okay for a man to hit a woman.  Love is not abuse. If a man hits you once, he’ll hit you again. For the young ladies who may be reading this blog post, do not under any circumstances stay in a relationship with a boy who verbally or physically abuses you. Do not get in the habit of excusing bad behavior. You are worth more than that. There’s not enough “I’m sorry” to excuse someone pushing you, hitting you, etc.

To learn more about the problem of domestic abuse, go to: http://www.ndvh.org/educate/what_is_dv.html