Whitney Houston: The Voice, the Music, the Inspiration

Whitney Houston The Voice, the Music, the Inspiration Narada Michael Walden with Richard Buskin ISBN: 978-1-60887-200-8 Hardcover | $24.99 | 224 Pages December 2012 Whitney Houston: The Voice, the Music, the Inspiration Is A Tender and Truthful Inside and Outside The Studio Portrait Of The Beloved Pop Superstar SAN RAFAEL, CA, September 11, 2012 - Whitney Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums and singles worldwide. The beloved pop icon remains the only artist to have seven consecutive U.S. chart-topping singles, and is the most awarded female act of all time. Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana has said, "About our sister Whitney Houston, my mom said, 'Mijo, my son, her voice is the voice of a legion of angels. Not just one, but a legion of angels.'" It is for Whitney's legion of loving fans, several thousand of whom crowded outside the church where author Narada Michael Walden attended her funeral service in February 2012, that he is now telling the story of the fabulously gifted artist, and caring, charismatic woman he knew during her peak years. Walden sat in the cockpit alongside Whitney while her career skyrocketed, producing many of the hits that today comprise her musical legacy, among them, "How Will I Know," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," and "One Moment In Time." His intimate stories of their unforgettable times together, both inside and outside the recording studio, paint a portrait of a smart, funny, compassionate woman whose striking physical beauty was matched by her inner strength and justifiable self-confidence. As the cousin of Dionne Warwick, and daughter of Cissy Houston, Whitney was able to draw on her lineage to make an unprecedented impact. And, at the same time, she and Narada enjoyed a rock-solid bond, fostered through their shared musical and spiritual backgrounds. Whitney Houston: The Voice, the Music, the Inspiration is a candid, poignant, and celebratory companion to the Whitney Houston Greatest Hits Album due this fall. Superstar producer/musician Quincy Jones, winner of 27 Grammys, including a 1991 Grammy Legend Award, has praised the book saying, "This book tells it like it was! The work that she and my young brother, Narada, did together made our world a better place, and that's not only because of the fabulous songs, but also their chemistry in the studio and Whitney's ability to sing from her soul. Narada tells us the truth about her sweetness, professionalism, and musical genius." Narada Michael Walden is an Emmy and Grammy-award winning producer and songwriter for artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Wynonna Judd, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones and of course, Whitney Houston. He has earned equal acclaim as a recording and performing artist. In 2012 he will release his solo album Thunder. He lives in San Rafael, CA. The New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty works of nonfiction, Richard Buskin's credits include biographies on Sheryl Crow, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, and Princess Diana. As a journalist specializing in pop culture, music, film, television, and sociopolitical affairs, his work has appeared in Billboard, Playboy, Spin, The New York Post, and numerous other publications around the world. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.