Still Missing You

It's odd how fast time flies by and we all tend to go on with our lives and day-by-day we start to lose a connection with the ones we have lost along the way. I can recall where I was the day I heard Aaliyah passed away 11 years ago. We going back to the days of two-way pagers here folks. I was still working at 92Q in Baltimore and it was a Saturday night. I was with my co-workers Egypt and Breeze and we were going to some club. Oddly, enough I have forgotten the name of the club but I will never forget the day I got the news Aaliyah passed. My pager was going off the hook with so many different versions of what happened. This was BG (Before Google) days and TMZ albeit the worldwide web was in effect it wasn't where it is now. So it took a minute for the story to be confirmed. I remember when it was we were in the club and we made the announcement and silent hush took over the club. It went from a room full of sweat and sultry dancing to tears and confusion.

It's funny how God always puts things or shows you things in life. A few weeks before Aaliyah's untimely death she was at the radio station doing the mandatory radio visit. I have to admit I was a fan that day! At the time my show was from 10pm-2am and when I got off the air I was so geeked to meet her that I just stayed at the station until she came around 8am or so. Who would have known that would be the first and last time we would meet. Life is full of uncertainty and disappointments but I have to say that day was a blessing more than any other. So in honor of the "Baby Girl", I put together this play list of some of my favorite songs by her. A beauty and talent gone too soon but in the best hands right now! Enjoy and always remember the ones we lose.

Stretch

The Death of an Angel

Where were you Saturday February 11, 2012? This will be a day that the world lost one of the most influential voices in music--Whitney Houston! A bona fide pop icon and global superstar is what Whitney was and will forever be remembered for being. I can honestly say I never thought I would have to be writing about the untimely death of the voice of the 80's and 90's. She took the world by storm with her debut album "Whitney Houston" in 1985. That album produced seven consecutive No.1 Billboard singles such as "Saving All My Love", "You Give Good Love", "How Will I Know and "Greatest Love Of All". Her voice and beautiful looks were all a breath of fresh air for the then 19-year-old! She was what the world needed and we all embraced her. Whitney paved the way for all female-artists that have followed her. None of them can't say that they didn't admire and looked up to the "Diva" simply known as Ms. Houston! Despite all of Whitney's fame and admiration from fans around the world she still battled her demons. They always say that the ones who are super-talented always suffer from something within that ultimately eats them up. Whitney had her issues with drugs, alcohol and of course her tumultuous and unusual marriage to Bobby Brown. But throughout all of that we thought we would get "our" Whitney back. But instead all we got was the shell of that woman that became the best-selling female artist of times, the woman who starred in "The Bodyguard" and had everyone singing "I Will Always Love You".

It saddens us all when we see our heroes fall or struggle and we can't do anything but stand-by and watch. Throughout it all Whitney Houston blessed us with her love, music and beautiful spirit. We must now not reflect on the latter years of Whitney's life but embrace all of what she did that made her the best-selling female artists of all-time! There will never be another and no one should ever try to copy an original. My thoughts and prays go out her daughter and family. So DMV let us relish and reflect on all the joy and love Whitney brought to our lives. As a fan I mourn her passing with her music that will live on forever! Her voice is undeniable and can never be duplicated. Thank you, Whitney for your mark and impression you put in my life, may God hold you tight and release you of all your pain and fears that you carried all of these years.