Long before there was a TV singing competition  called “The Voice,” there was Whitney Houston — aka “The Voice.” But there really was no competition. Houston’s power and range was second to no one else of her generation. In fact, the term of “The Voice” was something of an insult; it suggested that she was given a gift of singing from above, that it had little to do with talent. But to those who heard “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” or “Greatest Love of All” Or “I Will  Always Love You” or any of the other chart-topping hits, it didn’t matter where the voice came from. It was magical. Houston sadly died in 2012, but not before gifting us all with a gorgeous legacy.

You can listen to Whitney Houston on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, and Amazon, but the important thing is that you listen!

 

Few artists have enjoyed a resurgence in appreciation over the past decade like Dolly Parton. But in the 1970s, she fought against the perception that she was just a sidekick to Porter Wagoner … or just a pretty face. It also goes without saying that a lot of people think of other things first when thinking about Dolly, instead of thinking about her talents as a songwriter, singer and musician. But Dolly has remained true to her roots and to herself, and in recent years, she has begun to enjoy an elevated level of respect as an icon, a musician and an unbelievable person. But she’s been crushing it for a LONG time. No better example than 1974’s album “Jolene,” which includes the title track and “I Will Always Love You.” Perhaps you’ve heard of them? While the rest of the songs may not reach the level of those two, other tunes are elevated by Dolly’s lilting, east Tennessee voice, her ability to bring emotion to a story, and her songwriting prowess.

 

You can listen to Jolene by Dolly Parton on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, and Amazon, although it’s probably best on vinyl.