www.classicwhitney.com - Archive Newsfile

LA Reid...

This Associated Press Interview with LA Reid details Arista's progress under his leadership.

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 6 July 2002:

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER:
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Down to No.59 (from No.53) - 50 weeks on chart.

Release Date...

According to the BMG website, Whitney Houston's album will be released on 17 September 2002.

[Thanks Dzemil]

NEWSFILE: 27 JUNE 2002

Songs For Whitney...

[From Tonos.com]

Producer Looking For Songs For Whitney Houston!

URGENT!!!

A producer came to Tonos looking for songs for Whitney Houston. He needs songs as soon as possible. She is in the studio NOW recording her album. So, the sooner you submit the better.

YOU ONLY HAVE ONE WEEK!!

You do not have time to waste, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. This producer is looking for a BIG BALLAD and an R&B/pop uptempo song. SUBMIT NOW!!

Deadline is Monday July 1st, 2002. (9:00 a.m. PST)

[Thanks Dzemil/Dave W.]

Yolanda On Whitney...

The July 2002 issue of Ebony Magazine (Beyonce cover), features an article that discusses gospel music. Some of the biggest gospel stars, including Yolanda and Kirk Franklin, talk about how gospel music sales had risen since 9/11. Here's what Yolanda had to say:

"With that kind of coverage, people can't help but get into gospel music. It's amazing that the same people who listen to me listen to Whitney. They've been listening all along and it's like, wow! We have a nice fan base."

Rick James Uncensored...

[From Eurweb]

Extract of an interview with Rick James from Eurweb.com:

Now what’s going on with you and Alicia Keys? “I don’t know. She calls her album, ‘Songs In A Minor,’ and all of the songs are in E and D. I don’t think she knows her grammatic skill, personally. I think she’s ‘The Gong Show.’ When she did the Donny Hathaway song in front of millions of people and fucked it up, that just goes to show you right there what’s going on…What about Rachelle Ferrell, or Lalah Hathaway? What about all these serious bitches that can really sing? Alicia Keys? Because Clive Davis eats the best See’s Candies and gives the best whatever, and wants to show Whitney [Houston] that she ain’t shit, yeah, he’s going to put his effort in Alicia Keys.”

Now, what do you think of Whitney? “I love Whitney.”

Is she going to come back? Strong? “If God is willing she will. I pray she does.”

[Thanks Sylwia]

Hospital Update...

Bobby Brown Released From Hospital

.c The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Bobby Brown was resting at his New Jersey home after being released from the hospital for treatment of an infection, a family spokeswoman said.

The 33-year-old singer was traveling through Virginia with his wife, Whitney Houston, in their tour bus when they stopped at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg last week, said Nancy Seltzer, a Los Angeles publicist.

At the time, Brown, formerly of the group New Edition, and Houston were returning home from Atlanta, where Houston was recording an album.

Seltzer said Monday that Brown had a fever, but she declined to specify the nature of the infection.

Brown, admitted Wednesday, was treated intravenously with an antibiotic and released Friday, Seltzer said. He continued taking oral antibiotics during his recuperation at home, she added.

NEWSFILE: 25 JUNE 2002

Jet...

[From Platinum Club]

Whitney and Family In Jet!
Pick up the June 24th issue of Jet magazine and view a picture of Whitney, husband Bobby and daughter Bobbi Kristina backstage at VH1's "Divas Las Vegas" telecast which took place May 23rd at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The photograph of Whitney and family made the magazine's "week's best photos" list!

Click Here To See Photo

[Photo Scan Thanks: Edwin]

NEWSFILE: 23 JUNE 2002

Tamara Savage...

This Songwriter Universe interview with Tamara Savage discusses 'Heartbreak Hotel' (which she co-wrote for Whitney Houston) as well as confirms that Savage has been writing songs for Whitney's new album.

[Thanks Sabine]

Billboard Chart Update...

The Billboard update for the week ending 29 June 2002:

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER:
Hot 100 Singles Sales - Up to No.53 (from No.56) - 49 weeks on chart.

NEWSFILE: 20 JUNE 2002

Direction...

[From FlyteTyme.com]

JAMMIN' WITH MARIAH AND WHITNEY

Jimmy Jam has been working with pop/R&B divas Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

Last week at the annual Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremonies, Jimmy Jam talked about being in the studio with two of music's greatest singers. "Mariah's doing great, very energized and very enthusiastic," Jimmy said about Mariah's attitude in the studio. Jam and his partner Terry Lewis have worked on four songs for Mariah already. The dynamic producing duo from Minneapolis are also going to work with Whitney on her next project, Jam says they haven't gone into the studio with Houston just yet, but have had phone conversations about the direction they want to take with the album. The two have not worked with Houston before, and they say it's something that they're really looking forward to, later on this year.

[Thanks Alejandro]

NEWSFILE: 19 JUNE 2002

Fever...

[Associated Press Report]

Bobby Brown Treated for Infection

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Bobby Brown was being treated for an infection Wednesday at a Virginia hospital, a family spokeswoman said.

The 33-year-old former New Edition singer was traveling with wife Whitney Houston in their tour bus Tuesday when they stopped at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, said Nancy Seltzer, a Los Angeles publicist.

Brown and Houston were traveling from Atlanta, where Houston was recording an album, to their home in New Jersey.

Seltzer said Brown had a fever, but said she didn't ask about the nature of the infection.

``He voluntarily put himself there for an infection that had gotten out of hand,'' she said.

Brown was being treated intravenously with an antibiotic. He was expected to be released by Thursday.

NEWSFILE: 18 JUNE 2002

Rolling Stone Rich List...

[From Rolling Stone]

Whitney Houston is listed as the 12th highest income earner in music last year with $26.5 million by Rolling Stone Magazine. Here's their write-up on her:

Last year, Whitney Houston signed what is being touted as the biggest deal in history: six albums (including a greatest-hits) with Arista for a guaranteed $100 million. She received $30 million of the advance in 2001. Considering the shaky state of her live appearances, one label exec called the payout "the worst deal ever by a label and the best deal ever by an artist."

[Thanks Jim R.]

NEWSFILE: 12 JUNE 2002

Kandi...

[From Electronic Urban Report]

Kandi Burruss of X-Scape is pregnant with her first child and is due in August. No word on who the child’s father is, but sources say it is definitely not her former boyfriend/production partner Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs. The singer/songwriter, who penned “No Scrubs” for TLC and “Bills, Bills, Bills” for Destiny’s Child, is no longer signed as a solo artist to Columbia Records. Kandi is working on music for the upcoming albums of Whitney Houston and TLC.

[Thanks Dave W.]

NEWSFILE: 11 JUNE 2002

IMX...

IMX's Batman confirms he will work with Whitney Houston on her new album.
Read the MTV report here.

Dionne Charges Dropped...

This Associated Press Report confirms drugs charges against Dionne Warwick filed last month have been dropped following a plea bargain. Details in the report.

Directors Cut...

A special re-broadcast of the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary special will air on VH1 in the US on 9 June 2002. Dubbed as a 'Directors Cut', the show will include Whitney Houston's show stopping performance of 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin''.

NEWSFILE: 5 JUNE 2002