whitney elizabeth houston (august 9, 1963 – february 11, 2012) was an american singer and actress. referred to as “the voice”, she is regarded as one of the most influential vocalists in popular music. houston is noted for her powerful and soulful vocals, as well as her charismatic stage presence. she is the most awarded female artist of all time. houston is also one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide.