Whitney remembered

Photo from Time.com

Whitney Houston has influenced so much the music industry that younger generations of singers unblushingly copy her. Like Charice Pempengco.

Her sudden death the day before the Grammys keeled the music industry and left everyone grasping for explanations. She was just joining the Grammy parties in Hollywood and supposed to be part of the Grammy Awards show for her comeback in the industry.

But well, that is life. 

Whitney has been known for substance abuse and had been in and out of rehab. Her time has come.

My remembrance of Whitney was this video when she was just out for her major television appearance, fresh and with a bright future ahead. She was singing Home, one of my favorites. This was in 1985 when we just graduated high school.

Whitney, wherever you are, I hope your soul has found peace. Thank you for bringing good music to mankind. We will miss you dear.

More reading: Whitney Houston's death hits her native New Jersey hard

RIP: Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse joins Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison who died of drug overdoses when they were 27. Kurt Cobain was 27 when he committed suicide, soon after his release from rehab.

Kenny Rankin, 67

We know we are getting old when our favorite singers are dying or are already dead. One by one they die as we try to live each day. Kenny Rankin, for example.

He died of lung cancer on Sunday at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the US.

His songs are a ballad to my ear. I remember my uncle, who also is dead by the way, during his younger days. He loved Rankin and always sing his songs like Pussywillows and Cattails, Blackbird, Hiding Inside Myself, What Matters Most, etc.

This one is my favorite.

It's not how long we held each other's hand
What matters is how well we loved each other
It's not how far we travelled on our way
Of what we found to say
It's not the spring you see, but all the shades of green

It's not how long I held you in my arms
What matters is how sweet the years together
It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall
The early morning smiles we tearfully recall
What matters most is that we loved at all.

It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall
The early morning smiles we tearfully recall
What matters most is that we loved at all.

What matters most is that we loved at all.

Photo from emiliogrossi.com