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On The Scene: Whitney Houston’s 60th Birthday Grammy Week Celebration

by Nishat Baig
written by Nishat Baig

During this year’s Grammy week, Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston celebrated her 60th birthday year, legacy and music presented by Sony. The week’s festivities included SONY’S 360 reality audio immersive listening lounge, a gallery of iconic Whitney Houston photos and gowns, artists showcases, and Whitney pop-up retail store. The gallery showcased several of Whitney Houston’s iconic red gowns she wore throughout her career. The W Hotel in Hollywood transformed into the Whitney Houston Hotel during the Grammy week residency. There were two nights of live performances followed by a pre-grammy party with a live DJ and red carpet.

Friday consisted of a panel hosted by Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier, Whitney’s Brother Gary Houston, Pat Houston Executor of Whitney E. Houston Estate, Music Producer Rickey Minor, Award winning Producer Narada Michael Walden; and award-winning songwriter Gordon Chambers. Shortly thereafter there was a brunch curated by Award-winning Chef Deborah VanTrece of “VanTrece Hospitality Group” followed by a showcase in the evening. We had the opportunity to attend Friday night’s showcase which featured emotional performances by Natalie Jane, Amber Riley, Kiana Ledé, Coco Jones, and Michelle Williams. Fans, guests and VIPs gathered at the Whitney Houston Hotel to honor Whitney’s memory through song.

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On the Scene: Whitney E. Houston 60th Birthday Celebration

by Serena Khahera
written by Serena Khahera

Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston kicked off their celebration last week at the W Hotel in Hollywood honoring the incomparable icon Whitney Houston. It was an exciting week-long residency celebrating her 60th birthday, career and life presented by Sony.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Jordy Freed, Donna Houston, Larry Mestel, Pat Houston and Jun Makino during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)

The event included tons of fun attractions like the opening of Sony’s 360 Reality Audio Immersive Listening Lounge, the Whitney Houston Pop-Up Retail Shop and gallery featuring rare and iconic photos, as well as several iconic gowns worn by Whitney throughout her career all leading up to the Saturday night pre-Grammy party with special guest DJ. Billboard Power 100 executive Larry Mestel of Primary Wave was also in attendance along with members of the Houston family – Donna, Pat and Gary Houston – and Sony executives Jordy Freed, Jun Makino and more.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)

Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston continue to honor the incomparable singer, announcing today a Grammy-week residency to celebrate the 60th birthday, career and life of the iconic Whitney Houston at the WHITNEY HOUSTON HOTEL presented by Sony, with additional sponsors M·A·C Cosmetics, Proflowers®, and City National Bank. “It continues to be an honor to partner with the Estate of Whitney E. Houston and we couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate the life and legacy of the incomparable Whitney Houston,” said Jeff Straughn, Chief Branding Officer at Primary Wave Music. He continues, “We’re also extremely grateful for the continued brand support from all of our partners as we prepare to celebrate Whitney’s 60th throughout 2023!”

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)

Two days of live music featured an all-star roster of talent on hand for performances that will include a medley of their hits as well as their favorite Whitney song. The lineup includes Grammy winner Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, acclaimed actress and Grammy-nominated singer Amber Riley, Warner Records artists Baby Tate and Teddy Swims, Def Jam Recordings’ Coco Jones, artist and songwriter Georgia Ku (Martin Garrix, Dua Lipa, Zedd), Republic Records artist Kiana Ledé, TikTok sensation and Capitol Records latest signing Natalie Jane, plus more! All performers were supported by the trailblazing musical director and guitarist, Freaky Rob Gueringer (Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Cardi B) who were accompanied by an all-star band.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)

The Grammy-week residency marks the second activity in a multi-faceted collaboration between The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, Primary Wave Music and Sony to honor Whitney’s legacy of impeccable sound.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)

In Summer 2022, select Whitney Houston catalog songs and albums were released in 360 Reality Audio on supported music streaming services, including Amazon Music Unlimited. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is a new immersive music experience that allows listeners to immerse themselves in a field of sound – using any pair of headphones. Individual sounds such as vocals, chorus, piano, guitar, bass and even sounds of the live audience can be placed in a 360 spherical sound field, giving artists and creators a new way to express their creativity.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Atmosphere during the Primary Wave Music And The Estate Of Whitney E. Houston Kick-off 60th Birthday Celebration Of Icon at W Hollywood on February 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Primary Wave Music and the Estate of Whitney E. Houston)

In December 2022 aligned with the launch of the I Wanna Dance With Somebody biopic, Sony released the global ad “Whitney Houston x WH-1000XM5” bringing Whitney’s world to life through Sony’s WH-1000XM5 wireless noise canceling headphones (leaning into “WH” for “Whitney Houston”), which allows fans to get lost in her iconic music. #WhitneysWorldNothingElse.

Don’t forget to check out our TikTok @theknockturnal.com and follow us on Instagram @theknockturnal for clips and interviews of your favorite celebrities and exclusive events.

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Music

We Listen To ‘The Bodyguard’ Soundtrack

by Alexa Christina Politis
written by Alexa Christina Politis

Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film and adapted by Academy Award-winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman), THE BODYGUARD had its world premiere on December 5, 2012 at London’s Adelphi Theatre. Grammy Award-nominated and multi-platinum R&B/pop recording artist and film/TV actress Deborah Cox will star as Rachel Marron. THE BODYGUARD was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and Best Set Design and won Best New Musical at the Whatsonstage Awards.

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including “Queen of the Night,” “So Emotional,” “One Moment in Time,” “Saving All My Love,” “Run to You,” “I Have Nothing,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and one of the biggest selling songs of all time: “I Will Always Love You.”

 Grammy Award-nominated and multi-platinum R&B/pop recording artist and film/TV actress Deborah Cox will star as Rachel Marron.

Contralto Singer and X Factor Winner, Alexandra Burke, holds her own as she takes on her first ever Musical Theatre Album recording, featured as lead Rachel Marron  in The Bodyguard The Musical Album.

After winning The X Factor, Burke released the winner’s single “Hallelujah”, which became the European record holder for single sales over a period of 24 hours, selling 105,000 in one day.  In June 2014, Burke replaced Beverley Knight in the lead role of Rachel Marron in the West End musical  at the Adelphi Theatre, touring with the production in 2015 and 2016.

A Romantic Thriller started its official tour opening at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on January 10, 2017.

Now, to the music:

The Queen of The Night:  A rocking paso-doble

The Greatest Love of All –  Nice release on C2. Reminds me of…

How Will I Know: Raspy zeal, poignant pronunciation with a youthful tone that is as much as a throwback as the original.

Burke captures Whitney’s light at end of tunnel reverberation with her vibrato…

Saving All My Love for You: tactful dip  and depth in the first verse, zaps you into the initial heartbreak- longing of this song.

I was in wonderment, and stood in awe, trying to puzzle together what makes up an iconic singer. What is it to sing?

We are all iconic in our own way, but we are all in too much of a hurry to realize it.

What struck me at the Wax museum: Whitney Houston.

l was a child when (it was the last time I saw her)  I last saw her…

I planted my feet solid in the carpet beneath me, rigid against the crowd of people trying to take me in with the force/wave of the crowd.

I’m was in wonderment, and stood in awe, trying to puzzle together what makes up an iconic singer. What is it to sing?

To take in the enormity of this iconic singer. …

Flame burned bright but left us too soon

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