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Robert Ricciardelli

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Whitney Houston’s Tragic Death – “A Tribute” by Robert Ricciardelli & Kim Clement

Whitney Houston’s Tragic Death – “A Tribute” by Robert Ricciardelli & Kim Clement

Last updated on: February 12, 2012 at 3:27 pm by editorconvergingzone

Whitney Houston’s Tragic Death – “A Tribute” by Robert Ricciardelli & Kim Clement 2012-02-12T15:27:57-08:00 editorconvergingzone

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I grew up in the Whitney Houston Era. I loved her music, I loved her faith, and I believe she is one of the most talented voices that most people will ever hear on this planet called Earth. But she is gone now. I know there will be all kinds of talk, religious or otherwise on her life especially the negatives, but you know something, through it all, God never stopped loving her. I saw a recent video of her praying over and prophesying over Pastor Kim Burrell. There is no doubt in my mind that even through her troubles, she loved Christ and gave Christ glory for sustaining her through her trials. It seems she never totally broke free, and we still do not know what actually happened.

The 48-year-old Houston had been making the rounds in the days before the Grammy gala, appearing at rehearsals and offering advice to singers Monica and Brandy. On Thursday, she appeared with fellow singer Kelly Price on stage at a Hollywood club, where she sang the hymn Yes, Jesus Loves Me to loud cheers. I am thankful for the talent that God gave her, and pray for her family, (at the time of this writing, Whitney’s 18 year old daughter was being rushed to Sinai hospital, apparently of an anxiety attack). I also pray that this is reminder to all Christ followers, that each of us have the power of choice, for life and for things that lead to death. God beckons us to choose Him, choose life, and make choices aligned with Wisdom while putting everything else into the grace filled hands of our Savior.

The rest of the article below is from By Daniel Blake , Christian Post Contributor and Kim Clement Tribute below that.

Legendary pop artist Whitney Houston has died suddenly aged 48, it has been announced Saturday. Houston’s publicist Kristen Foster made the announcement to a stunned music world, although the cause and the location of her death were not made clear. With her passing many are wondering whether she was a Christian.

REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Whitney Houston performs at the Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Icons with Clive Davis honoring David Geffen held in Beverly Hills, California, February 12, 2011.

Houston was in fact born in a neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey, and was the third and youngest child of entertainment executive John Russell Houston, Jr., and gospel singer Cissy Houston.

Obviously mother Cissy offered a strong gospel music influence for Houston, but that influence was magnified through a number of other family members; her cousins Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, as well as her godmother Aretha Franklin were all notable figures in the gospel, rhythm and blues, pop, and soul genres.

She was raised a Baptist, but also attended a Pentecostal church during a period of her growing up. By the age of 11 she started performing in the junior gospel choir at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, and amazed the congregation with her first solo performance which was a rendition of “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.”

Through her teenage years Houston attended a Catholic girls high school.

From then on her career never looked back as she ventured into more and more prominent roles. Houston’s first acting role was in 1992 in The Bodyguard alongside Kevin Costner. The movie’s original soundtrack was made up with some of her most famous songs, and she won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her work.

Click here for video

SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON’S HIT “I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” HERE

In 1996 she starred in The Preacher’s Wife, and also contributed its soundtrack, which became the bestselling gospel album in history; selling an estimated 6 million copies worldwide.

However, her success was to take a toll on her clean and faithful image. Her behavior reportedly changed drastically in the late 1990s, when colleagues complained she would arrive hours late for interviews, photo shoots and rehearsals. There were also reports of canceled concerts and talk show appearances.

She divorced husband Bobby Brown on April 24, 2007 after a troubled marriage and she was granted custody of their daughter.

In recent years, Houston was making a comeback. She performed the song “I Look to You” on the 2011 BET Celebration of Gospel, with gospel–jazz singer Kim Burrell, held at the Staple Center, Los Angeles. However, stints in and out of rehab for drug and alcohol problems continued.

In 2009 she testified how her faith had helped her through her troubled times, saying to MTV: “The changes that we go through, the transitions that we go through, the tests that we go through, being a mother, becoming a single mother — it all had its ups and its downs, but for the most part, I kept my faith and I kept my head up and I took my time.”

Her death will devastate millions of loyal fans, who will have been left stunned by the news of her passing. Houston in the past has admitted to her deep spiritual battles, saying: “The biggest Devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy.”

KIM CLEMENT TRIBUTE

Click here for video

Whitney Houston died Saturday Feb. 11, 2012 aged 48.

SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON’S HIT “I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” HERE

SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON’S HIT “THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL” HERE

SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON’S HIT “I’M EVERY WOMAN” HERE

SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON’S HIT “I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY” HERE

SEE VIDEO OF WHITNEY HOUSTON’S HIT “IT’S NOT RIGHT BUT IT’S OK” HERE

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