On this day (Feb 20) in 1993, “I Have Nothing” was released as the third single from ‘The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album’ by Arista Records. Written by David Foster and Linda Thompson, produced by Foster, and recorded in LA — the song became a worldwide hit (after the successes of “I Will Always Love You” and “I’m Every Woman”) and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs and #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart. It received several nominations including an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, and Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B Single, Female. The song is 2x RIAA platinum and the video has over 800 million views on Youtube.
30 years ago today, Whitney performed her iconic medley of “I Loves You, Porgy,” “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and “I Have Nothing” at the 21st American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. She won a record of eight AMAs that night for ‘The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album,’ including the special Award of Merit for “truly exceptional contributions to the music industry.”
August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012 💜
Photo: Patrick Demarchelier. Previously unseen from Whitney’s ‘I Look To You’ photo shoot in 2009.
A Whitney appreciation post 💜 Records for our record-breaking queen 💿📀
📸: David LaChapelle, outtake from ‘Whitney: The Greatest Hits’ photo shoot
On this day in 1991, “All The Man That I Need” reached #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart. Originally recorded by R&B singer Linda Clifford, Whitney’s version was produced by Narada Michael Walden and was the second single from her ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ album. It also reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Chart. It was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the 34th Grammy Awards and also for Best R&B/Soul Single, Female at the 6th Soul Train Music Awards.
39 years ago today, Whitney’s first/lead single “You Give Good Love” was released from her debut solo album. Upon reviewing the single, Billboard called Whitney’s voice “a voice of exceptional clarity and control.” The song won “Favorite Soul/R&B Single at the American Music Awards and received 2 Grammy nominations: Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female. She sang the song on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson — and the performance is included in the 2014 CD/DVD release ‘Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.’
We loved all the tributes to Whitney yesterday 💜 Here is one of our favs.
🎥 Repost: @dreamcatchersda
In 2020, Whitney became the first African American (male, female or group) to have three RIAA Diamond-Certified albums. #BlackHistoryMonth
📸: @randeestnicholas
Watch Whitney’s rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl in 1991 – link in bio. #GOAT
Whitney at rehearsal for her national anthem performance at the Super Bowl in 1991.
#superbowl
On February 25, 1986, Whitney performed “Saving All My Love For You” and won her first Grammy! 💫
🎥 Repost @fortheloveofwhitney
“I don’t want to be a diva … I’m Whitney.”
🎥: Repost @classicwhitney.discography on Instagram
February 15, 1986 – “How Will I Know” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts – both on the same day! The song was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, and produced by Narada Michael Walden, who made a few changes in the song to suit Whitney. Cissy Houston also sang background vocals on the song. The single would hit #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart a few weeks later.
February 5, 2000: “I Learned From The Best” (written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster) peaked at #20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart. It reached #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs. The Junior Vasques Remix of the track was released — and unique in the sense that Whitney re-recorded her vocals for that version.
25 years ago today, “Heartbreak Hotel” (featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price) reached #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart. Produced by Soulshock & Karlin, the song was the second single from Whitney’s 1998 album “My Love Is Your Love.” It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received 2 nominations at the 2000 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The video was shot in Miami, Florida and was nominated for Best R&B Video at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.
Wishing you love this Valentine’s Day! ❤️ @apollotheater
February 1997 (27 years ago): Whitney performed “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” at the 39th Grammy Awards. The song received four nominations and won for Best R&B Song.
Repost: @classicwhitney.discography
February 8, 1992: “I Belong To You” from Whitney’s third studio album ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ peaked at #10 on the Billboard R&B Chart. The song, written by Derek Bramble and Franne Golde and produced by Narada Michael Walden, earned Whitney a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1993. The video featured some extended shots from the “My Name Is Not Susan” video as well as footage from the ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight World Tour.’
Enjoy Whitney Houston’s classic love songs set to a romantic ambiance – now streaming on the official Whitney Houston YouTube channel! 🌹
Never dim your light 💜 Kelly Price shares a story about Whitney during a rehearsal for their “Heartbreak Hotel” performance.
February 24, 1997: “Step By Step” was released in the U.S. as a single from ‘The Preacher’s Wife – Original Soundtrack Album.’ The song was originally written and recorded by Annie Lennox in 1992. Whitney’s version was reworked as more R&B/pop with some new lyrics and omitting a portion of the bridge, with Annie singing backup vocals. Billboard called it “one of the shining moments” on the soundtrack and the song reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, #12 on the Adult Contemporary Chart and #29 on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Chart. It also charted successfully around the globe.
“She gave everything she sang GREAT meaning. She knew what she wanted and she asked me to rewrite the bridge to that song three times in the studio until she was happy enough with one of them to record,” songwriter Frank Wildhorn said of “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.” The song was released as the fourth single from the album ‘Whitney’ in February 1988 and became her seventh consecutive Number One single — setting an all time record which has yet to be broken. Watch her performance from the American Music Awards in 1988 — link in bio.
Arsenio Hall talks about his love for Whitney 💜
🎥 Repost @fortheloveofwhitney
Whitney recorded “Look Into Your Heart” for the album ‘All Men Are Brothers: A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield,’ released in February 1994. “Look Into Your Heart” was originally written for the movie ‘Sparkle’ in 1976, a movie that Whitney loved so much as a teenager that she later produced and starred in her own remake of the film, released in 2012.
All the songs on ‘All Men Are Brothers’ were written by Mayfield except “Amen,” which was written by Mayfield and John W.Pate, Sr. Other artists who appeared on the album included Gladys Knight, Lenny Kravitz, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Elton John.
