Many refer to her simply as “The Voice”, and rightly so. At her peak, Whitney Houston’s tone was the perfect combination of richness, intensity, and brilliance. Her range – powerful, wide, and seemingly effortless. For years her magnificent instrument has inspired countless singers around the world. Mariah Carey once stated, “I believe that all girls who aspire to sing have looked up to Whitney Houston.”
In recent years we have witnessed her decline: pictures of her body frighteningly thin; a reality show depicting the disintegration of her marriage and of her wholesome diva image. But most upsetting are the changes that we, her fans, have noticed in her – once golden – voice. Often I receive the question from friends, family, students, and fans… “What Happened to Whitney’s voice?”
Before I attempt to answer this question I’d like to note that the following article is my absolutely objective analysis of Whitney Houston’s VOICE – not a critique of her as a person. I am in no way attempting to detract from her talent or from the merit of her illustrious career. This is pedagogical, not personal. My assessment is based on her audio recordings, video footage of live performances, and her own personal testimony about her lifestyle and substance abuse issues.
It is no secret that the voice we now hear being promoted for her new album, I Look To You, is very different from the voice we heard belt out those high notes in such hits as “I will always love you” and “The Greatest Love of All”. How can a voice that seemed to be practically flawless, begin to wane so dramatically? Was it the drugs? Have her vocal folds weakened with age? As a professional vocal coach, who works with 100’s of singers every week, I believe that Whitney’s vocal decline can be attributed to several factors.
Early Technical Faults
It is important to note that someone “sounding good” to our ears is a very relative phenomenon. It’s a matter of opinion. It is very possible for someone to sound great, while singing in a way that is damaging to their voice. The human voice is very resilient, and youth often allows for us to push the limits. Early in Whitney’s career, her immense talent was apparent (Hence her record deal and worldwide fame). What was equally apparent, was her lack of formal training. Many will say, “She sounded magnificent…How can you say she had no training?”. Indeed, Ms. Houston did sound magnificent. But solid and effective vocal training is just as much about preserving your voice, as it is about enhancing the sound of it. Whitney Houston, by her own admission, had never had formal voice lessons.
A professional singer has ridiculous demands placed upon their instrument. There are recording sessions, interviews, private showcases, and public performances that happen on a daily basis. You are required to use your voice, dynamically, for hours on end. Such a hectic schedule, in itself, can shorten the career of any promising new singer. The number one evidence of a singer abusing her voice – nodules: calluses that form on the vocal folds, due to trauma and irritation (caused by overuse/misuse). Whitney has had to cancel performances and tours numerous times, on the basis of temporary vocal damage. This brings me to her first major hurtful blow to her golden pipes:
1) Nodules: Whitney developed nodules, during her bodyguard tour in 1993-1994. At the time, she was unable to rest to prevent permanent damage. There was a noticeable change in her voice, thereafter. Nodules make it difficult for the vocal folds to fully close; thus, a huskier sound results. To make matters worse, nodules force the singer to work twice as hard at producing clear and high tones… the strain causing even more damage. Any vocal coach or singer, who has dealt with nodules, knows that immediate vocal rest(upon diagnosis) is of the utmost importance. This vocal rest is then followed by vocal rehabilitation(speech therapy and/or voice lessons), and sometimes even surgery(depending on the severity of the case). It is essential that the damaging behavior be corrected, in order for the condition not to return or worsen. Whitney continued to push her damaged voice, and the initial huskiness and loss of range began. She later worked with vocal coach Dr. William Riley (also helped Celine Dion get over nodules), but some of that damaging vocal behavior remained. This damaging vocal behavior caused a continuous decline in the quality of her sound and in the health of her voice.
2) High Larynx: While singing, Whitney suffered immensely from a high larynx condition. A high larynx often results when a singer attempts to pull a powerful, ‘meaty,’ or ‘chesty’ sound up high in the range. We often call this “belting”. When the larynx is high, it constricts the throat and makes it impossible for the vocal folds to vibrate freely. There is excess pressure and tension, and any number of vocal disorders can result : scarred vocal folds, nodules, hemorrhaging, polyps, etc. Any singer, who has taken voice lessons, knows the dangers of a high larynx. In many cases, teachers use Whitney Houston as an example of what NOT to do. This is because she sounds good IN SPITE of her flawed technique, not because of it. Watch any live performance of Whitney Houston and you will see the bulging veins in her neck and trademark wobbling jaw (another sign of excessive muscle tension). This is the attempt of the body to hold down the larynx(your ‘voice box’) from rising up too high. A major part of most forms of vocal training is learning to relax the larynx, during singing. Unfortunately, Whitney never learned this and – to this day – continues to sing with a heightened larynx (evident by her recent Oprah performance and by her excessive hoarseness).
The high larynx also traps Whitney in her chest voice, and disconnects her from her head voice. This creates a gap in her range, where ” the mix” should be. The mix allows singers to belt out high notes with power and freedom, without the strain. Singers like Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, and Haley Williams, give good examples of powerful mix belts in much of their music.
For those of you who are not singers or who have never had training, you might say… “Of course she’s hoarse. She’s working a lot. ” But you might be surprised to learn that hoarseness is not something that HAS to happen. There are some singers, with solid vocal techniques, that sing VERY frequently… yet, you will rarely(if ever) hear them hoarse. Vocalists, like Patti Labelle( who CONSTANTLY sings at the top of her range), are rarely heard hoarse. It has nothing to do with talent, and EVERYTHING to do with training and vocal coordination. As singers, we have to educate ourselves to know the difference between talent and training; just sounding nice VS. healthy singing. Talent will enable you to naturally sound good; training will KEEP you sounding good. Talent, alone, will not protect your voice from damage. A well trained voice, however, can sing for hours on end – daily – and survive healthily.
3) Marijuana/ Cocaine usage: The blatant truth – drugs suck. Whitney, by her own admission, used Marijuana laced with Cocaine on a daily basis for years. This is damaging in too many ways to specify in this one article. So I’ll just hit some main points. A) Smoke itself attacks everything that you need for singing. It weakens and inflames your lungs. B) In order for the smoke to reach your lungs, it must pass through your vocal folds. The membranous tissue of the vocal folds is easily damaged by smoke. The vocal folds can suffer burns and over-drying(making them even more susceptible to damage). Plus the diaphragm begins to deteriorate. C) Cocaine constricts the blood vessels, thus making it more difficult to prepare the voice for singing (ex: one of the primary purposes of lip rolls is to increase blood flow through the cords; Also, those who choose to drink hot beverages do so because hot beverages dilate the blood vessels and give a sense of freedom to the voice). So, if the blood vessels are constricted, freeing the voice becomes nearly impossible. It also causes one to neglect basic life necessities like eating regularly and sleeping. Your body is your instrument. The vocal cords do not exist in a special box on a shelf somewhere. They are housed within your body. Unhealthy body = unhealthy voice.
4) Age: Is it her age? Whitney’s range has obviously changed over the years. Her registers have shifted; her voice is thicker and lower. This can partially( and I emphasize PARTIALLY) be attributed to age. For the healthy female singer, the voice may deepen, but it becomes richer and fuller with age. If daily vocalization is maintained, the registers may still shift, but the range does not necessarily have to be lost. For many women, pregnancy and menopause can also affect the voice, causing the registers to shift and the voice to deepen. But understand that there are many singers Whitney’s age, and older who maintain their vocal ranges, in spite of the fact that they have also had kids and/or gone through menopause: Celine Dion, Patti Labelle, Rachelle Ferrell, Barbara Streisand.
Any single one of the above factors, alone, can cause dramatic changes to the voice. Combine all four… and you have a basic formula for the breakdown of one of the greatest voices of our time. The good news: even a severely damaged voice can recover some of it’s elasticity and health. If not fully recover, I believe that Whitney can AT LEAST regain some clarity and range. What would I do, if I had the chance to help her?
Whitney’s Vocal Bounce-back Plan
1) I would immediately get her on some cord closing exercises, to aid in the excessive huskiness and occasional delayed onset of sound that she’s experiencing today. It would remove the sense of vocal weight and restore some of her voices intensity.
2) Breathing exercises would be employed, to alleviate excessive throat tension and give more depth to her sound.
3) We would work greatly on helping her to achieve a mix. This would allow her MUCH more vocal stamina and restore much of her upper range.
…Perhaps one day, I’ll get an opportunity to work with her. Till then, I’ll keep her in my prayers, as I’m sure we all will. In the end, I’m just glad to have her back. I wish her all the best. And, if you’re a singer, let this be a lesson to you. Take care of your gift; it can be taken away.
Peace & Blessings,
Eric
Awesome article Eric…Thank you so much for your expertise and talent!!!
daniel
I so agree with all you are saying. As i get older as a singer I do a lot of cardio and vocal warmups before a show. I have studied the voice to the degree where I can sing a lot of songs. I am a nobody but as a singer in the level of professional arena I am in, I make sure I train as professional as possible. Who knows one day I maybe famous and therefore I would be ready for all that comes with it. Thank you for the article. It was extremely informative and inspiring to know that the older I get, with proper techniques, my voice will last me a long time.
Thanks, Tracy De Lucia
very very very enlightening article. Great review!
You are the man! Great assessment.
Excellent analysis and remedial information Eric. This type of insight is critical to all singers, especially those in Whitney’s case: the one’s who need rehabilitation. In addition to ALL the points mentioned (lol), one concept that sticks out to me is the “deception” that if you sound good, you must be singing “right”. I am glad you commented on that erroneous perception. This is why it’s so important to be technically sound in addition to being artistically impressive. Otherwise, down the road, you may be left with only a shadow of vocal production that once was.
Nevertheless, yo Whitney, we love you! Glad you are back to a peaceful state – and prayerfully your voice will be restructured technically to match your incomparable artistic genius. The Arceneaux Approach can do it! Aight, I just had to add that last part. lol!
Michael W. Bryant
I learned more about the voice than I ever had in life. Thanks for that clearly defined explanation without a lot of medical terminology to confuse me and he readers. You know our stuff Eric. Sounds like Whitney should hire you immdiately! … I hope she hires someome to help restore her once beatiful voice to where it once was? or close to it! What songbird she once was? I hope her comeback works for her… God bless Whitney!
What is your analysis regarding her vocal performance for GMA and Oprah, which pales in comparison to the recording of the album
1. Was it lack of rest/preparation
2. Strain
Do you suspect that she had vocal surgery?
What a great and informative article! I will definitely share this article with my vocal students. Great job!
This sir is an excellently written article to sum up so many points that lead to vocal damage!! I hope many young singers whom are not privileged to have private instruction get to read it!
A most intelligent, inciteful and objective analysis. We love Whitney and are very excited about her return to the music scene. She’s inspriing and still possesses that something special that draws you to her and makes you want to watch her and buy her music. Congratulations, Eric. Well done!
u really know your stuff my lord!!!
WOW!!
thank you so much for this!!
is so educational!!
God Bless you with more knowledge to share!!
Hey this was awesome man. Expertly done. Very objective indeed.
Thanks for the info….I was wondering what happened….you really know your stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fabulous article! I am sing but am not a music teacher. Many of my friends have asked me “what happened to her voice?” I gave them my opinion but I will now forward this great article. Thanks!
I love you for providing this great assessment and answering my most frustrated question. However, when you talked about recovery, you didn’t mention that she also has to stop smoking cigarettes, but I assume that’s a given. Thank you so very much and I hope her “people” reads this and hire you or I hope she has a great vocal coach already.
The article is very interesting. But the writer confirms that Whitney did not have any formal training / advice regarding her voice / assistance over those years¿? I don´t think so…..
I think ur reading into things that are not there bro! Whitney 46 and not 20 anymore! When ur singing as much as she does, wear n tear over the years takes it toll. I have seen da best of ‘em hoarse, believe it happens to everyone. Aretha Franklin smoked for years, it is not cigarettes, because it affects everyone differently! Drugs, hmmm maybe ur too young to remember Natalie Cole’s situation, but she bounced back too, once again, it affects everyone differently! The best thing for Whitney Houston is cardio, and rest!
I think i have the same problem like W.Houston, shall i visit a doctor for a larynx check-up?
Great, great article Eric. I am a singer too, and I have performed (as lead) on many occasions with a group I was in. Music isn’t something that I am pursuing, though I would do it. But at the same time, I don’t want my talent to go away.
Very interesting! Found out mny new details for myself! Thank’s a lot! ! We need you!
Great Eric! That´s it! we need to take care of our gifts or they can go away in front of our own eyes!
This brings welcomed hope that she (and, to a comparatively infinitessimal degree, I) can regain the gift of annointed song. I have searched for a decade for true knowledge and clarity on this subject. And here it is, stumbled upon, as if by Grace permitted. Thank you.
This is really interessting to read. Thank you for posting it! =) Is it possible to ask for an Vocal Coach’s Analysis on Michael Jacksons voice?
Great review, Eric! can you please do such a review on Steven Tyler’s voice. And teach us some of his tricks!
Amazing text..I m operatic singer(male) and i had problems with frequent Laryngitis. She is/waso ne of the greatest vocalist ever to hit the stage and inspiration to Celine Mariah Lara Christina and other divas..she should work to recover that golden and magic Voice..Love you Whitney!!
Love this article Eric! A lot of the things you said about “The Voice” I’ve also thought about. I agree that Whitney’s voice can be mostly restored if not all the way. As a singer myself I have to make sure I constantly keep in practice everything I learned studying voice so that my instrument will last me.
Eric,
I really appreciate all your help! I am sure alot of people get the benefit of this help from you, you are really awesome!
All I can say is THANK YOU for all this!
God bless you.
Wow…your right you know…never thought about it like that..untill now..
Excellent article. I will continue to follow your advice. For sure, I’ve learned that if it hurts or is uncomfortable, don’t do it. I often wondered about the veins popping in Whitney’s neck and that jaw quiver thing. Now, I know. Thanks Eric!
You´re a genious Eric God bless you. Such a clear and complete explanation!!!
I hope you come to Argentina one day and thanks for all that you´ve been sending me lately. All the luck in the world.
This is a very fair outsiders view of what’s going on. We can’t forget that Whitney, like Marc Anthony, is a cigarette smoker as well. He voice is still great. She will always be a great singer, without respect to vocal quality. There is a huge difference between having a great voice and being a great singer. A truly great singer is a real musician (that’s Houston). There is a certain intelligence, or genius – if you will, that sets the great singers apart from those who merely have nice voices.
Thanks for the great article. Please do one on the effects of GERD on the voice, it would be very interesting…
Thank you and God bless you for all the great things you have been doing to serve the world in your own appointed way. You are one of just a handful of my contemporaries I am proud of.
will you ever come to italy? I really hope so. I would try to meet you as a vocal coach and listen to you as a singer:o)))
let me know if you’ll fly over here in old europe, please!
Thank you so much for that detail explanation and vocal master class 101 on keep your instrument /voice in excellent condition…That was truly wonderful an I HOPE SOMEONE IN WHITNEY CAMP is fully aware that there is still hope …..God I WISH THE BEST for her and would love somewhat that old wonderful angel voice …Please eric reach out to her and help her recapture some of that golden vocals of yesterday …ALL THE BEST 2 U AND whitney is in my heart !!!!!
deon
Engaging and enlightening. Thanks for your insight.
get information. thanks
now i know thanks, really tnx
Thank you for this excellent analysis. I so admired Whitney Houston; her deterioration is heartbreaking. I am living proof that a properly trained voice can thrive in old age. I’ll be 77 on May 2 and the “chops” are intact. An additional blessing is, having learned to breathe properly as a very young singer, my lung capacity has not diminished with old age. I have the normal aging and bags and sags and cellulite but my voice remains young.
Thanks for this explanation. I’m from Brazil and there is a time I’d like to know what really has happened with Whitney voice.I’ve just known about the cigarettes and I thought that drugs have deteriored her body but I had never believed that just drugs have damaged her voice so deeply. Thanks a lot for the information. Now i’d like to know why in 2004 in the “World Music Award”, although we could realize her voice was a little changed she sounded better than now?
PS: Sorry for my English mistakes.
Awesome posts! Keep up the great work.
Just had to say how helpful this article was, for I´m a quite unexcperienced singer and have Whitney as my biggest idol and of course I´ve noticed her voice changing and wondered why. My wish is to become as powerful as she was or better so I want to make sure I never make those mistakes, specially when I haven´t been gifted with such a raw talent.
Thank you so much, Eric!
Just excellent job!!
Lots of love!
Maretha
(hope you will hear about me one day;))
Eric your’e awsome, Thanks
I wish I could sing like you..
please respond back if u can i would like to chat with u. i am a male, and i love whitney houston music, every now and then when i listen to her, i chime in and i cannot hit those notes. but i have found that if i talk in a light higher voice i am able to sing higher notes better, and if u listen to the way whitney houston talken then and how she talks now, u will hear that her speaking voice is lower, and i fell that if she tried to talk higher and softer all the time, she would be able to hit more high notes….please email me!!!!
Great info, thanks for useful post. I’m waiting for more
I really like and appreciate your blog post.Thanks Again. Cool.
Hopefully people will become more wise to the signs and stop helping it spread lol neeraj10781i think i was “LOL”