THE NAME GAME – 1970’s EDITION

Well Labour Day has come and gone and life goes on a little bit cooler.  It’s September, but we’re not going to ‘fall’ into being lax on this site.  The questions will keep on comin’.  This time, questions about songs from artists who were born during the month of September AND also had hits during the 1970’s.  It’s not complicated I promise.   

QUESTIONS:

1.  This singer/songwriter was a member of a very ‘colourful’ psychedelic British band.  He wrote almost all of their lyrics (including the songs on a 40 million selling album that spent over 700 weeks on Billboards’ album chart).  He split from the group after ‘creative differences’ and went solo in 1985.  Along with his former band mates, this performer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.  There’s no ‘dark side’ to this man’s talents, so can you name him?                                                                                                              

2.  This singer, songwriter, producer was born on September 1, 1946 and initially became successful as part of a group with his two twin brothers.  Their first North American hit happened in 1967, but they didn’t hit # 1 until 1971 – that one was followed by 8 other # 1’s throughout the 1970’s.  The brothers’ youngest sibling, who was also a singer, had 3 # 1’s in a row during the ‘70’s.  He died in 1988 at the age of 30.  This artist’s twin brothers both passed away making him the last one ‘Stayin’ Alive’.  Who is this chart topping performer?  

    

3.  Her maternal grandfather was a Nobel Prize winning atomic physicist.  She’s a multiple Grammy Award winner and has been at the top of the singles chart 5 times, starting in 1974 and had her last # 1 in 1981.  Her first charted hit single, which made it to # 25, was with a Bob Dylan song.  She’s also an actress with several major hit films to her credit (including one with the star of ”Saturday Night Fever”).  In fact, she had a couple of hit songs with this actor/singer/ airline pilot.  In the mid 1980’s she opened a chain of clothing stores called Koala Blue.  She still performs today and is currently on a North American tour.  Who is she?     

4.  This guitar player/songwriter had  two # 1 hits as a member of two different groups.  His first chart topper came in 1970 with his first group.  In 1974 as a co-founding member of his second group, he hit the top of the singles chart once again.  This performer has an ‘overdrive’ to succeed and his records have sold some 40 million copies.  He has had an on again/off again relationship with the lead singer from his first group, but they have toured together fairly recently.  His son had a Top 20 hit in 1999, so the family’s hit making continues with the next generation.  Can you ‘guess who’ this legendary guitar player is? (C’mon it’s right there in black and white already).    

   

5.  Farrokh Bulsara is the name with which this performer was born.  Growing up, he lived in Zanzibar (his home and native land), India and Great Britain.  At an early point in his career, this singer/songwriter performed as Larry Lurex.  In 2008, the editors at Rolling Stone magazine named him # 18 on their list of “The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time”.  The group he co-founded is considered to be rock ‘royalty’.  Canadian born actor Mike Myers used one of their songs in the first “Wayne’s World” films in 1992 and that song charted 7 positions higher than its first time around in 1976.  His group wrote and recorded the music to the 1981 film, “Flash Gordon”.  Can you guess the name of this electric performer?  

   

ANSWERS

1.  George Roger Waters was born on September 6, 1943 in Surrey, England.  He was a founding member of Pink Floyd and wrote most of the bands’ lyrics.  After some ‘creative disagreements’, Roger left Pink Floyd in 1985 and went on to a successful solo career.  He reunited on stage with David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Rick Wright in 2005 for the Live 8 Global Event.  After 3 kicks at the marriage can and 3 divorces, he said ‘I do’ for the 4^th time earlier this year. 

          

2.  It’s Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, full name Barry Alan Crompton Gibb.  The groups’ first chart hit in 1967 was “New York Mining Disaster 1941”, but it wasn’t until the summer of ’71 that they made it to # 1 with “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?”  Their other eight # 1’s during the ‘70’s were: “Jive Talkin’” (1975), “You Should Be Dancing” (1976), “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Stayin’ Alive” (both 1977), 1978’s “Night Fever” and “Too Much Heaven” and two in 1979, “Tragedy” and “Love You Inside Out”.   Barry also scored additional # 1’s by co-writing “Grease” for Frankie Valli in 1978; Andy Gibb’s three chart toppers, “I Just Want To Be Your Everything”, “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water”, “Shadow Dancing” and co-writing and producing “Islands In The Stream” with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers in 1983.  Barry’s younger brother Andy passed away in 1988 and the twins, Maurice and Robin died in January of 2003 and May of 2012 respectively. 

        

3.  Olivia Newton-John came into this world on September 26, 1948.  Although many people assume she’s Australian, she was actually born in Cambridge, England and emigrated to Oz with her family when she was 6 years old.   Her maternal grandfather, Max Born, won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1954.  Her first album was 1971’s “IF Not For You” and the title song went to # 25.  Her five # 1 hits are: “I Honestly Love You” (1974), “Have You Never Been Mellow” (1975), “You’re The One That I Want” (with John Travolta in 1978), “Magic” (1980) and 1981’s “Physical”.  Olivia’s a breast cancer survivor since 1992 and is a tireless advocate for breast cancer research.  Since 2008, she’s been married to John Easterling, founder and President of the Amazon Herb Company.  It was the second marriage for both Olivia and John.  The couple live in Florida. 

4.  It was on September 27^th, 1943 that guitar legend Randy Bachman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (that’s in Canada for those of you reading outside North America).  His first taste of chart success came with the group Chad Allen & The Expressions (he being an expression).  To add a little mystery to the song “Shakin’ All Over”, the record company changed their name on the record label to Guess Who?  The name stuck.  Chad Allen didn’t.  After his departure, Burton Cummings became the new lead singer and keyboard player.  The Guess Who’s only number one single was 1970’s “American Woman”, which had a resurgence 34 years later with a version by Lenny Kravitz that was used in the film, “Austin Powers:  The Spy Who Shagged Me”.  After he left The Guess Who, he formed Brave Belt with Chad Allen, but after 2 albums, that group dissolved and Bachman-Turner Overdrive was born.  That groups’ only number one was 1974’s “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”.

5.  Freddie Mercury of Queen is the only correct answer to this question.  Freddie was born on September 5^th, 1946 in Zanzibar and died at the age of 45 on November 24, 1991.  Freddie didn’t live long enough to see the additional success that Queens’ song ”Bohemian Rhapsody” had...thanks to the success of the 1992 movie “Wayne’s World”.  When it was originally released in 1976, it went to # 9 on the singles chart.  After “Wayne’s World” came out, it zoomed right back on the charts to # 2.  During their career, Queen scored two # 1 hits, both in 1980 – “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites The Dust”, although they had more than two dozen of their songs make the singles charts.

BYE BYE BEATLES

Summer is coming to an end sooner rather than later and August is the month that The Beatles completed their final tour in 1966.  They began that tour in Chicago on August 12^th and wrapped up their last tour at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on August 29.  They stopped touring because they couldn’t hear themselves playing with all the fan screaming.  They also thought they weren’t growing as musicians and wanted to spend more time in the studio on their songs.  Since we haven’t done a Beatles quiz for awhile, we’re doing one this time.  All of the questions involve either number one songs by The Beatles or well known Beatles quotes and events, so it shouldn’t be THAT difficult.  Plus, all the questions are multiple choice.  Let’s see how you do.

QUESTIONS:

1.  After their final concert in San Francisco on August 29, 1966, George Harrison uttered which of the following statements: 
a. “Thank goodness, we’re finally done with that touring nonsense.”
b. “Well, that’s it, I’m not a Beatles anymore.”                                    
 c. “Hey Ringo, did you have to eat all of my french fries?” 

2.  The early Beatles films were for United Artists – “A Hard Day’s Night” in 1964 and “Help” in 1965.  United Artists wanted “A Hard Day’s Night” shot and released by early summer because they thought the group would be finished by then.  After the massive world-wide success of “A Hard Day’s Night” (thanks in part to a great script by Alan Owen and creative direction from Richard Lester), The Beatles second film “Help” began shooting in the Bahamas on February 24, 1965.  “Help” had its premiere in London on July 29th, 1965.  “Help” was eventually chosen over the films’ working title.  What was “Help” originally known as? (HINT: THAT TITLE WAS PRINTED ON THE 45rpm SINGLE OF “TICKET TO RIDE”)                                                                     
a. “Life On The Run”                                                                 
b. “Here, There and Everywhere”                                                      
c. “Eight Arms To Hold You”
  
3.  After “Help”, The Beatles had plans to film a third live action movie for United Artists, but couldn’t come to an agreement.  Eventually, “Let It Be” served as the final film in the contract  with United Artists.  In the meantime, the animated feature, “Yellow Submarine” was created.  The Beatles were so disinterested in the project that they didn’t even bother to do their own voices for the film.  Although the animated feature “Yellow Submarine” was released in 1968, the title song had been a hit two years previously.  It only went as high as number 2 on the singles chart.  One song used in the film however, did make number one.  Which song was that?  (HINT: IT WAS ALSO A SONG THE BEATLES PERFORMED VIA SATELLITE BEFORE A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE IN 1967)                                                                                                                                                    
a. “Nowhere Man”                                                                     
b. “All You Need Is Love”                                                            
c. “Eleanor Rigby”

4.  In the television special, “Magical Mystery Tour”, The Beatles travelled around Great Britain in a bus filled with strange and wonderful people and did strange and wonderful things.  There was no script and The Beatles as well as the actors made it up as they went along.  The one hour special aired on BBC television during the Christmas holidays in December 1967 and was not well received.  In fact, the British press savaged it.  Only one song featured in the special made it to number one in North America.  Can you name it?  Was it:                                                                              
a. “Hello, Goodbye”                                                                 
b. “Magical Mystery Tour”                                                            
c. “All You Need Is Love”
  
5.  The Beatles final film, “Let It Be” (which to this day, has still NOT been released on DVD), began in 1969 as they rehearsed for a new album at Twickenham studios, just outside London and ended with a concert on the roof of their Apple office building on Saville Row in London.  While the title song, “Let it Be” as well as “The Long And Winding Road” both went to number one, there was one additional chart topper that was featured in the film.  Name that song.  Was it:

a. “Don’t Let Me Down”                                                               
b. “Get Back”                                                                        
c. “Across The Universe”              

ANSWERS

1.  b. Is the correct answer.  On the plane ride home to England after The Beatles final performance at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, George famously stated, “Well, that’s it, I’m not a Beatle anymore.”  Of course, he would be one for several more years, just not a touring one.
    
2.  The premiere for “Help” was held at the London Pavilion Cinema in Piccadilly Circus on July 29, 1965, 7 days after the title song “Help” was released in Great Britain as a single.  Another song featured in the film, “Ticket To Ride”, had been released a few months earlier and went to number one on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart for the week of May 22, 1965.  It was The Beatles eighth North American number one single.  Printed below the title “Ticket To Ride”, in smaller type on the 45rpm record, was: “From the United Artists Release Eight Arms To Hold You”, so the correct answer was c.
  
3.  Yeah the hint kind of gave it away.  The answer indeed was b. “All You Need Is Love”.  The Beatles had performed the song ‘live’ (with a recorded rhythm track and background vocals) for the “Our World” satellite broadcast on June 25, 1967.  It was seen in 26 countries to an estimated audience of four hundred million people.  “All You Need Is Love” was featured in the “Magical Mystery Tour” TV special as well as the North American LP (in Great Britain, the LP was not released until much later.  A double EP (extended play 45) came out in the U.K. featuring 6 songs, “Magical Mystery Tour”, “Your Mother Should Know”, “I Am The Walrus”, “The Fool On The Hill”, “Flying” (an instrumental) and “Blue Jay Way” along with a booklet of pictures from the TV special.
   
4.  “Hello, Goodbye” was the number one song in question, so a. is the correct answer.  The song topped Billboards’ singles chart for the week of December 30, 1967 and remained there for 3 weeks.  John Fred and His Playboy Band’s hit “Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)”, a take off on The Beatles “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”, knocked it out of the number one spot.  The flip side of the “Hello, Goodbye” 45rpm single was John Lennon’s “I Am The Walrus”.  “Hello, Goodbye” has been used recently in several commercials for various companies around the world.  
                                                    
5.  b. “Get Back” is the right answer with Billy Preston on organ.  The Beatles had met Billy in 1962 when he was performing with Little Richard.  While the former Fab Four were filming and rehearsing their latest album at Twickenham studios, Paul went to a concert by Ray Charles at the Royal Festival Hall in London and noticed Billy Preston on stage playing with Ray.  Paul invited Billy to hang out for a couple of weeks at Twickenham and Billy added that unique electric piano solo to “Get Back”.  It was number one on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart for 5 weeks starting with the week of May 24, 1969.

80’s LYRICS

As we head into the dog days of summer, we’re going to revisit a feature that we’ve often had many requests for more, more, more (thank you Andrea True).  Everybody knows the words to their favourite songs, but not everyone knows the song title.  The five lyric selections below were ALL from number 1 songs during the 1980’s.  How difficult can that be? Well, let’s see then, shall we...

QUESTIONS:

1.     This lyric came from a number one song in 1982: “We all know that people are the same where ever you go.  There is good and bad in everyone.  We learn to live.  We learn to give each other what we need to survive together alive”.  So what ‘80’s song are those lyrics from?  Bonus marks for knowing the singer or singers.    

2.     This 1985 number one came from a movie soundtrack: “I’ve been waitin’ for so long.  For something to arrive.  For love to come along.  Now our dreams are comin’ true.  Through the good times and the bad.  Yeah, I’ll be standing there by you”.  The co-writer of this hit is also the singer, and its success came at a ‘Heavenly’ time for this Canadian.  Can you name the song as well as the singer?  

3.     At the end of October in 1986, this song from a female singer with bright, colourful hair was number one for two weeks.  A portion of the lyrics are:  “In a world full of people.  You can lose sight of it all.  And the darkness inside you.  Can make you feel so small.”   Can you be ‘true’ to yourself and name the song and the artist who sang it?

4.     If you know your ‘80’s music, this one should be a snap.  It was number one for two weeks in July 1980.  Some of the lyrics are:  “Oh, it doesn’t matter what they say in the papers.  ‘Cause it’s always been the same old scene.  There’s a new band in town.  But you can’t get the sound from a story in a magazine...aimed at your average teen”.  This singer/songwriter had previously been an amateur boxer with 22 out of 28 wins.  It was his first number one hit, although it wouldn’t be his last – he had two more chart toppers during the 1980’s.  So, what’s the song already and who sang it?

5.     This number one song from 1987 had already been a Top five hit twenty years previously for a Midwestern U.S. group.  This time out, the singer was a 16 year old female who started out singing in malls.  A portion of the lyrics are: “Running just as fast as we can.  Holding on to one another’s hand.  Tryin’ to get away into the night.  And then you put your arms around me.  And we tumble to the ground.  And then you say...”  Can you name the singer and the name of the famous hit?

ANSWERS

1.  Sir Paul McCartney (although he wasn’t a ‘Sir’ yet) and Stevie Wonder are the two performers of this song.  Paul wrote the song “Ebony & Ivory” and it hit the top of the singles chart for the week of May 15, 1982 and remained there for 7 weeks.  It was replaced by “Don’t You Want Me” from the Human League for the week of July 3rd.

2.  Do you remember a 1983 movie called “A Night In Heaven”?  It starred Christopher Atkins (of “Blue Lagoon” with Brooke Shields).  The songs’ co-writers were Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams.  Adams wasn’t yet the superstar he would later become, but he was getting there.  He’d hit the Hot 100 singles chart previously with “Straight From the Heart” (# 10 in 1983); “Cuts Like A Knife” (# 15 in ‘83); “This Time” (# 24 in ’83); “Run To You” (# 6 in ’85) and “Somebody” (# 11 in ’85).  The song “Heaven” was written specifically for the movie and was Bryan’s first number one.  Adams would go on hit the top rung of the singles chart several more time with songs such as “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” in 1991 from the movie “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, “All For Love” with Rod Stewart and Sting in ’94 from the movie “The Three Muskateers” and “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman” in ’95.  That one was featured in the Johnny Depp movie, “Don Juan de Marco.  

3.  Cyndi Lauper is the singer in question.  “True Colors” is the name of her number one hit from the last week in October and the first week of November in 1986.  For both of those weeks, the number two song was Tina Turner’s “Typical Male”.  That one never made number one.  “True Colors“ was replaced at the top of the charts by the group Boston with their hit, “Amanda”.  “True Colors” was Cyndi’s second, and so far, last number one.  Her previous numero uno was 1984’s “Time After Time”.  Cyndi first hit the charts in late ’83 with her signature song, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” which made it as high as number two in March of ‘84.   

4.  “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me” was Billy Joel’s first number one single.  1980 was the year.  His next number one was “Tell Her About It” in ‘83.  Then in ‘89, he hit the top of the charts again with “We Didn’t Start The Fire”.  “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me” replaced Paul McCartney’s “Coming Up” as the top single for the week of July 19^th, 1980.  Billy stayed on top for two weeks and was knocked out of the top spot by Olivia Newton-John’s “Magic”.     

5.  The singer was Tiffany.  Her cover of Tommy James & The Shondells 1967 hit, “I Think We’re Alone Now” stayed in the number one spot for two weeks in November of ‘87.  Ironically it was replaced by another previous Tommy James hit, “Mony Mony”, only this was a live version by Billy Idol.   

“JUNE IS BUSTIN” OUT ALL OVER” 80’s EDITION (THE JULY VERSION)

We’re now officially into July, but this feature has been so popular that we’ll continue this month with a few more.  We’re still asking questions about number one songs but now, they happened in the month of July during the 1980’s.  ALL of these songs made it all the way to number 1, you most likely heard them on the radio hundreds of times, so you probably know the answers instantly.  OK, maybe not, but give it a shot anyway. 

QUESTIONS:

1.     This one-name musical dynamo was born in 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  During his teens, he taught himself how to play guitar, keyboards, drums and any other instrument within reach.  He signed a contract with Warner Brothers Records with a clause which stated that he would have creative control.  1979’s “For You” was his debut effort.  In his dreams, his rain is always purple and for a time (when he was in a major dispute with his record company), he refused to acknowledge his name and insisted on being called ‘The Artist Formerly Known as ______” or “The Artist” and insisted on using a non verbal symbol instead of his name.  The song we’re looking for was his first number one hit and lasted for 5 weeks at the top of the singles chart, but prior to that, he’d had several songs in the Top 10, including “Little Red Corvette” and “Delirious”, both in 1983.  You know this one, I know you do.  Who is the artist and what was his first number one? 

2.     This singer/songwriter was once a member of a Long Island rock group called The Hassles in the late 1960’s, then formed a power rock trio called Attila.  To help make ends meet, he became an amateur boxer (he won 22 of his 28 fights).  He released his first solo album, “Cold Spring Harbor” in 1972, but a dispute with his management led him to temporarily move to Los Angeles where he played piano in cocktail bars.  This number one hit single from 1980 was his first chart topper, although he would have two more after it.  In 1985, he married a famous supermodel, but they eventually divorced, although he did write a couple of hit songs about her.  This performer is a six time Grammy Award winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.  [HINT]  That last sentence contains a clue to the song title we’re looking for.  Can you name this rock and roll legend and his 1980 number one hit? 

3.     The genesis of this group began in England and went through many changes and quite a few members until it was finally down to three.  The number one song we’re looking for hit the top of the charts on July 19^th, 1986.  It was toppled the following week by Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer”.  Ironically, Gabriel had been this groups’ former lead singer.  Although this band hadn’t exactly been ‘invisible’ [HINT ALERT # 1] on the charts, this song was their first and only number one single.  Don’t shed any ‘tears’ [HINT ALERT # 2] if you can’t get it, but if you don’t, maybe it’s time to hang up your rock and roll shoes. 

4.     Every James Bond movie seemed to have a hit theme song dating all the way back to “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey which cracked the Top 10 in 1965.  Paul McCartney & Wings had a number 2 hit with “Live And Let Die” in 1973 as did Carly Simon matched in 1977 with “Nobody Does It Better”.  In 1981, Sheena Easton climbed to number 4 hit with “For Your Eyes Only”.  Nancy Sinatra (“You Only Live Twice” 1967), Rita Coolidge (“All Time High” 1983), Tom Jones (“Thunderball” 1966) and others have had minor hits, but only one James Bond theme has made it to number one and that’s the group whose name and hit song we’re looking for.  This group had their first number one in 1984, although they’d been on the Top 10 singles chart 4 previous times.  In July 1985, their James Bond theme was number one for two weeks before being pushed out of the top spot by the Paul Young hit, “Everytime You Go Away”.  This band was one of the most successful groups in the 1980’s, having sold more than 100 million records.  They took their name from a villain in the Jane Fonda movie “Barberella”.  Can you name the band and their number 1 hit James Bond theme? 

5.  This number one was the first single released from this superstar’s second album.  It was number one for two weeks, starting with the last week of June and remained on top for the first week of July 1987.  By this point in her career, this performer had already hit number one three times...first in 1985, then twice more the following year.  She had two more number one’s in ’87, including the song we’re looking for.  It had been written by a husband and wife songwriter/performing duo who called themselves Boy Meets Girl.  They had previously written “How Will I Know” and submitted “Waiting For A Star To Fall” as a followup, but the record company passed, so the duo recorded it themselves and were rewarded with a Top 5 hit a few years later.  This artist sadly has passed away, but was honoured this month with a tribute at the BET Awards.  Dance around your computer for a few minutes [HINT ALERT] and you’ll probably come up with the title of the song.  She sold over 170 million albums during her lifetime and her name should come easily.  Who is she and what was her 1987 number one?    

ANSWERS

1.  Prince Rogers Nelson is the artist name we needed.  His number one song for 3 weeks in July 1984 was “When Doves Cry”.   Two months later, Prince hit the top of the singles chart again with “Let’s Go Crazy”.  “When Doves Cry” by the way, was credited to Prince and The Revolution.  In 2000, he announced that he would be using the name Prince once again.

2.  Billy Joel is the cat of which we speak.  His 1980 number one hit during the month of July was “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me” which first hit the top of the singles chart on July 19 where it remained for 2 weeks.  His second number one single, “”Tell Her About It”, came in 1983 with his third and final chart topper, “We Didn’t Start The Fire”, happening in 1989.  His marriage to supermodel Christie Brinkley lasted from 1985 until 1994.  They had one daughter named Alexa Ray.  In 1990, Billy’s song “The Downeaster Alexa” made it as far as number 57 on the singles chart.  Several years ago, Billy toured with Elton John as ‘piano men’.                                                                                                              

3.  The number one hit from 1986 was “Invisible Touch” from Genesis.  The three members of Genesis, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks all had separate solo careers at the time and besides former member Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” number one, Phil Collins solo hit       “Take Me Home” had made it to number seven around the same time.  Collins also produced the Howard Jones hit, “No One Is To Blame”, which climbed to number 4 two weeks before “Invisible Touch” hit number one.  Mike Rutherford’s other band, Mike & The Mechanics had “All I Need Is A Miracle” (number 5 in June of ‘86) and “Taken In” (highest chart position was number 32) on the singles chart at the same time.  Finally, former Genesis member Steve Hackett and his band GTR charted “When The Heart Rules The Mind”, which topped out at number 14.  

4.   It was Duran Duran who took “A View To A Kill” to number 1 in July of 1985.  The previous year, they’d had “The Reflex” top the charts for 2 weeks.  Their name came from the villainous character, Dr. Durand Durand (played by actor Milo O’Shea) in the 1973 film, “Barberella”.  “A View To A Kill” was Roger Moore’s final film as James Bond.    

    

5.  The late Whitney Houston had her first number one in 1987 in July.  The song was “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).  Husband and wife George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam wrote it.  Whitney hit the top of the charts again in late September with “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”.  Whitney’s career took a downward spiral for several years and just as she was making her comeback, she died on February 11, 2012 in Los Angeles.  Whitney Houston’s final film, “Sparkle” is due to be released next month.