Shirley Houston (April 9, 1942 – February 11, 1974) was an American singer known for her powerful voice and emotional delivery. She was the daughter of opera singer Cissy Houston and jazz singer John Lawrence Houston. She began singing in church at the age of four, and by age six she was appearing on local radio programs on WNEW-AM in New York. She sang backup on many recordings by artists such as Little Richard, Ike & Tina Turner, Ben E
King, Solomon Burke, Peggy Lee, and Smokey Robinson. Her first single, "The Secret of My Success" (1961), was a modest hit, but it would be several years before Houston's popularity increased significantly due to her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1963; she performed "I Love You... Don't Leave Me" accompanied by The Emotions.
After her appearance on The Tonight Show, she had several more hits with the song "Save the Last Dance for Me", which reached number one in the U.S. in 1968. "Save the Last Dance for Me" won Houston two Grammy Awards in 1968: Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - Single or Album.
Her recording of "I'm Every Woman" peaked at number four in the U.S., while another single from her self-titled debut album, "Saving All My Love for You", reached number one in the summer of 1971.
In darkness, some flowers blossom!Shirley Houston
A life lived outside of one's giftedness is a complete and utter travesty. It deprives the world of the beauty we each bring to our respective space(s). It leaves us all less fulfilled and enlightened.Shirley Houston
