R.I.P Whitney Houston

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 14 Feb 2012 4:39 pm

I wouldn't want my daughter trying to emulate a drug addict in any type of way.

George, I wouldn't want that either. I think it's a pretty safe bet that we were referring to her singing.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 14 Feb 2012 4:51 pm

Such a shame that it ended this way. Most of us hoped for a triumphant return and even peace in her life. Truth is, her voice was completely ravaged--there was nothing left of it. I heard a recent recording and it almost broke my heart.

We've lost so many great people to addiction. So many musicians, performers, etc., but even more who were just friends and family. To anyone struggling with those demons, my heart goes out to you.

Here is how I like to remember Whitney, from her first recording session at 19 years old with Bill Laswell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_rId-X64hg

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 14 Feb 2012 5:15 pm

Country music is filled with characters who struggled with the demons of alcohol and drugs (and even wrote hit songs about it). Many of them are now regarded as Saints. Whitney was a tortured soul who succumbed to drug abuse as did many other great (and lesser) talents. Some, like James Taylor, manage to escape the vicious circle. Many never do. It is a tragedy of Whitney's life, but this does not diminish the huge legacy of astonishing quality music that she leaves behind. I think any aspiring artist would be proud to achieve a fraction of what she did in her career. Of course, none should emulate her lifestyle and young people need to learn to make that distinction.

On a related note, I'm happy to see that most young people I meet who are into jazz these days have no interest in emulating the lifestyle of Charlie Parker, but you can bet they're copping every Parker lick they can learn!

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 14 Feb 2012 5:18 pm

Strange thing Mike, since you're a Jersey guy, The news tonight says she may be buried at Fairview Cemetery in my town of Westfield.

It also says that her father is buried there.

I live less than a mile away and pass by it pretty much every day.

My wife's grandfather is there, as well as the notorious John List, whom I used to sit behind in Church as a young boy.

Funny thing too is that actor Dudley Moore is buried two towns away in Plainfield, NJ . When he came down with his brain disease a woman who worked with him in New York cared for him as the disease progressed. He is one of my favorite actors.

RIP Whitney.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 14 Feb 2012 5:39 pm

Craig Stock wrote:Strange thing Mike, since you're a Jersey guy, The news tonight says she may be buried at Fairview Cemetery in my town of Westfield.

It also says that her father is buried there.

I live less than a mile away and pass by it pretty much every day.

My wife's grandfather is there, as well as the notorious John List, whom I used to sit behind in Church as a young boy.

Funny thing too is that actor Dudley Moore is buried two towns away in Plainfield, NJ . When he came down with his brain disease a woman who worked with him in New York cared for him as the disease progressed. He is one of my favorite actors.

RIP Whitney.

Craig, I live near Plainfield. I love Dudley Moore, too, I should go visit his grave. I remember the List story very well, too--creepy. BTW, Robert Hegyes (Epstein) just passed away--he lived in Metuchen.

I grew up near Newark and my wife attended Seton Hall in South Orange, so when Whitney was breaking out, there was huge support for the local girl. My wife adored her and she was really hurt by the news, although she (being a nurse) pointed out that Whitney appeared to be on drugs many years ago before any of this talk ever came public. She's never wrong, either.

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 15 Feb 2012 11:24 am

Now there trying to blame doctors for her taking drugs? Correct me of I am wrong but if someone locks you in a room with 2 tons of crack do you have to do it?
NO you don't. It's called personal responsibility.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 15 Feb 2012 11:43 am

george..you mean two tons a day, right?

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 15 Feb 2012 11:56 am

chris ivey wrote:george..you mean two tons a day, right?

Whatever you get the point.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 15 Feb 2012 12:45 pm

George, what about goin' to the gig & in the dressin' room most of the liquid entertainment is spiked
before you know it, you & others are stoned out of your minds
what do you do ?

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 15 Feb 2012 1:45 pm

...leave a thank you note?

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 15 Feb 2012 2:54 pm

CrowBear Schmitt wrote:George, what about goin' to the gig & in the dressin' room most of the liquid entertainment is spiked
before you know it, you & others are stoned out of your minds
what do you do ?

Crack open a bottle of water. You must not have spent much time on the road if your still drinking spiked stuff. I learned a long time ago. Be sure of what your drinking or eating.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 15 Feb 2012 4:41 pm

This is the one that I come back to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN2Mp6gu ... plpp_video

When she hits the second chorus, that "I..." at 1:56 - if that don't ring your bell, your bell's cracked. Not to mention the third run through at 3:19 and she's just playin' with it, all the tricks. You can NOT fake that stuff in a studio.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 15 Feb 2012 4:54 pm

She was awesome back in the day.

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 17 Feb 2012 5:37 am

NJ Gov Chris Christie is flying the US flag at half mass for drug addict Whitney Houston. Yet he does not fly the US flag at half mass for fallen US service members.What a joke.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Feb 2012 6:24 am

George Crickmore wrote:NJ Gov Chris Christie is flying the US flag at half mass for drug addict Whitney Houston. Yet he does not fly the US flag at half mass for fallen US service members.What a joke.

I don't agree with the decision to fly the flag at half mass.

Why all the hatred, though? Is there something she did that personally offended you or do you harbor the same animosity for all drug addicts?

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 17 Feb 2012 7:08 am

Mike Neer wrote:
George Crickmore wrote:NJ Gov Chris Christie is flying the US flag at half mass for drug addict Whitney Houston. Yet he does not fly the US flag at half mass for fallen US service members.What a joke.
I don't agree with the decision to fly the flag at half mass.

Why all the hatred, though? Is there something she did that personally offended you or do you harbor the same animosity for all drug addicts?

You can't be serious. That is what she was. If that bothers you go back to playing in the sand box with the other kids.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 17 Feb 2012 7:16 am

George, that may be what she was, but that's not all she was. Give credit to the Whitney we knew before she became addicted.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Feb 2012 7:23 am

George Crickmore wrote: You can't be serious. That is what she was. If that bothers you go back to playing in the sand box with the other kids.

I just can't stand to listen to the words of ignorant people. Sorry, that's how you're coming across. I'm pretty sure you'll agree that you're not a perfect person--none of us are. I don't need to defend Whitney, her weaknesses cost her her life, but she was more than just a drug addict.

There are many addicts in the entertainment world, maybe even some of your heroes. Paul McCartney is a long-time drug abuser, do you feel the same toward him?

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 17 Feb 2012 7:24 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:George, that may be what she was, but that's not all she was. Give credit to the Whitney we knew before she became addicted.

Sorry but she has not done enough to justify lowering the US Flag.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 17 Feb 2012 7:29 am

Don't blame her for the lowering of the flag; it wasn't her decision (obviously). I personally think that was a bad decision, but blame it on the current Governor, not the deceased! She made her own bad decisions, which cost her her life. But she was much more than "just a crack-head". When she was at the top of her game, she was one of the best singers of the last two generations (at least). Gotta give her credit for that. The truth is always more nuanced than these black-and-white proclamations and labels.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 17 Feb 2012 9:34 am

i'm with george on this. i think his point is 'who's more deserving' of an american flag salute, servicemen or whitney?........ no contest... politician's priorities have gone to hell. campaigning has become an immature pre-teen slamfest.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Feb 2012 9:42 am

So far, we've all condemned the action of flying the flag at half mast for her. Just this week, a soldier from my hometown was killed and they didn't fly it in his honor, as far as I know.

But to continue to refer to her as the "drug addict" lacks class. She only has one being to answer to on that matter.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 17 Feb 2012 10:32 am

I was a little confused earlier. I thought "half mass" was when you cut out of church before the sermon!

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 17 Feb 2012 11:01 am

Mike Neer wrote:So far, we've all condemned the action of flying the flag at half mast for her. Just this week, a soldier from my hometown was killed and they didn't fly it in his honor, as far as I know.

But to continue to refer to her as the "drug addict" lacks class. She only has one being to answer to on that matter.

Well don't they say once a addict always a addict?
I don't respect anyone who is a drug addict. If you do
so be it. I never said she was a bad singer. In fact if you read the post at all it was directed at Gov Chris Christie. I respect people that make excuses for drug addicts even less.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 17 Feb 2012 11:34 am

I respect people that make excuses for drug addicts even less.

I can understand drug addicts, because nobody is free of faults. I hope you don't drink, because alcohol is a drug too.