Have another record or photo? Add a life event, census record, military record, obituary, achievement, or photograph for Whitney Elizabeth HOUSTON.
Life & Records
Photos, life events, and historical records for Whitney Elizabeth HOUSTON.
How to read this timeline
Records about Whitney Elizabeth HOUSTON and family appear alongside historical events from the same years. Each item is labeled so you can quickly tell family records from historical context.
Show:
Use these buttons to focus on the ancestor's own records or the wider historical context.
Biography
Whitney Houston, often hailed as 'The Voice,' was a legendary American singer, actress, producer, and model. Born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, Whitney Elizabeth Houston emerged as one of the most iconic and influential voices in the history of music.
Whitney came from a musical family; her mother was the gospel singer Cissy Houston, her cousin was the renowned singer Dionne Warwick, and she was also related to Aretha Franklin. Growing up in an environment surrounded by music, it was almost inevitable that Whitney would find her way into the spotlight.
Her musical journey began in the church choir, where her powerful and soulful voice quickly became apparent. By the time she was a teenager, Whitney was already making waves in the music industry as a backup singer, contributing to the recordings of artists like Chaka Khan and Lou Rawls.
In 1983, Whitney Houston released her self-titled debut album, which quickly became a chart-topping success. The album featured
June 17, 1972 – August 9, 1974 - Watergate Scandal began with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., in 1972. Members of President Richard Nixon's administration attempted to cover up their involvement. The scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration, the resignation of President Nixon in 1974, and the indictment of several administration officials.
1973 - January 22 - Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 and Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179: The U.S. Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects women’s right to terminate an early pregnancy, thus making abortion legal in the U.S.
1973 - March 29 - The last United States soldier leaves Vietnam
The cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper of Motorola. On April 3, 1973, he made the first handheld mobile phone call with the Motorola DynaTAC. This device weighed 2.5 pounds and was 10 inches long, offering 30 minutes of talk time and requiring 10 hours to charge. The first commercial cell phone was released in 1983, revolutionizing communication and leading to the modern smartphones we use today.
1986 - January 28 - Space Shuttle Challenger accident - The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members.
1989 - The World Wide Web is invented at CERN (Tim Berners-Lee, UK)
2001 - September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Coordinated terrorist attacks by the extremist group al-Qaeda on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, leading to significant changes in U.S. domestic and foreign policy, including the War on Terror.
Questions, Corrections & New Information
Ask a question or share a correction, source, or new detail about Whitney Elizabeth HOUSTON.
When possible, include names, dates, places, and sources so the information is easier to verify.