Whitney Houston鈥檚 brother remembers when his young sister listened to their mother during gospel rehearsals before she mimicked every tune that was sung.
As Houston rose to pop superstardom, her exceptionally talented vocals were rooted in gospel music. And now, her family 鈥� led by her sister-in-law Pat and brother Gary Houston 鈥� wants the foundation of her musical legacy to continue to live on through her new posthumous gospel album and documentary under the same name, 鈥� 鈥�
鈥淕ospel was in her heart,鈥� said Gary Houston, who recalled his sister around the age of 5 wearing their mother Cissy Houston鈥檚 wig and high heels while using a broom as a microphone. 鈥淲e woke up to and went to sleep to gospel. She would sing exactly what she heard my mother and her siblings. No secular music. It was all gospel.鈥�
Pat Houston, the executor of Whitney Houston鈥檚 estate, said she鈥檚 excited for listeners to hear the six-time Grammy-winner鈥檚 message of hope and faith and the influential mark gospel music had on her life and career through both projects, which both were released Friday last week. The documentary, hosted by CeCe Winans, aired on UPtv and AspireTV and will be available on DVD.
The singer鈥檚 14-track album features several tunes from notable soundtracks including 鈥淛esus Loves Me鈥� from 鈥淭he Bodyguard,鈥� from 鈥淪parkle鈥� along with and from 鈥淭he Preacher鈥檚 Wife鈥� soundtrack 鈥� the best-selling gospel album of all time. The project also includes six unreleased tracks 鈥� three of which (鈥淗e Can Use Me,鈥� 鈥淚 Found a Wonderful Way鈥� and 鈥淭estimony鈥�) were recorded when she was 17 years old.
鈥淵ou heard the innocence of her voice,鈥� said Pat Houston. 鈥淵ou could see where she started and how she ended up with all her hits throughout her career. Any song is a great song of Whitney Houston鈥檚. You heard her gospel roots all wrapped up in her music.鈥�
Whitney Houston first started singing at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, as a child. Between the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world鈥檚 best-selling artists with her effortlessly powerful vocals rooted in the Black church but made palatable to the masses with her pop persona.
It understandably took time for the family to grieve after Whitney Houston鈥檚 death in 2012. Her brother, Gary, said he still feels his sister鈥檚 spirit whenever it rains, or when a bird visits him while he鈥檚 at home adding that 鈥渨hen the doorbell rings, I think it鈥檚 her.鈥�
But now, Gary and Pat Houston feel like they鈥檙e in a better place. That鈥檚 one of the reasons Pat felt now is the perfect time to release the gospel-centric projects 鈥� especially with Easter next month and Whitney Houston鈥檚 60th birthday celebration on the horizon in August.
鈥淎n Easter project is something she always wanted to do since her visit to Israel,鈥� Pat Houston said. 鈥淚t never came into fruition. We鈥檙e doing this all through Whitney鈥檚 lens. It鈥檚 special because this is her 60th birthday celebration. This project is definitely a labor of love for her. It represents her in such a very spiritual way.鈥�
Pat Houston said she hopes viewers can find closure through watching the documentary with several guest appearances including Jenifer Lewis, Kim Burrell and Kevin Costner. It features the singer鈥檚 first-ever performance in front of an audience as well as many others including her singing 鈥淚 Go to the Rock鈥� with The Georgia Mass Choir on 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� in 1996, 鈥淛esus Loves Me鈥� in Santiago, Chile, in 1994, and 鈥淕uide Me O Thou, Great Jehovah鈥� on 鈥淭he Arsenio Hall Show鈥� in 1990.
鈥淗opefully one could have peace and knowing that Whitney Houston was a woman of God,鈥� she said. 鈥淣o one is really exempt from the harsh realities of the world. She certainly understood that. But Whitney expressed her love for God. She knew where her strength was coming from and she showed it throughout the documentary.鈥�
鈥擩onathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
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