
[From Ben Beaumont-Thomas at the Guardian]
New deal with estate clears path for raft of new projects featuring the late soul and R&B singer.
The late Whitney Houston is set to tour as a hologram, according to the company behind the postponed Amy Winehouse hologram tour.
In a statement, Base Hologram described the show as an “awe-inspiring live theatrical concert that will celebrate her amazing life, work and everlasting legacy”. It will feature Houston appearing as a 3D hologram, with recordings of her vocals backed by a live band. No dates or locations have been announced.
Pat Houston, the singer’s sister-in-law and president of her estate, said: “Whitney prided herself on her family and that included her fans. She adored her audiences and that’s why we know she would have loved this holographic theatrical concept.”
The show follows Base Hologram’s successful Roy Orbison hologram event, which toured the US and Europe in spring 2018; it is returning in October, pairing Orbison with a holographic Buddy Holly. The company also successfully staged a Maria Callas holographic tour in 2018. A rival company, Eyellusion, recently staged a well-received Frank Zappa hologram tour, and is about to launch one featuring a hologram of hard-rocker Ronnie James Dio, who died in 2010.
Base Hologram’s plans for a 2019 Amy Winehouse tour were postponed, after the company faced “unique challenges and sensitivities” in trying to replicate Winehouse in “the most celebratory and respectful way possible”.
The Houston estate has also partnered with Primary Wave Music Publishing to produce projects featuring the Houston name. The company hopes to put out an album featuring unreleased songs from her 1985 self-titled debut, and is in discussions about a Broadway musical and a Las Vegas show.
In 2012, Houston accidentally drowned in her bathtub; she had drugs including cocaine and Xanax in her system. A pair of recent documentaries, the authorised Whitney and Nick Broomfield’s Whitney: Can I Be Me, explored the singer’s troubled life. The film Whitney explored the accusation that she was sexually abused by her cousin Dee Dee Warwick as a child – a claim that Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, denied, describing it as “rumour, innuendo and hearsay”.
In an interview with the New York Times, Pat Houston said: “Before [Whitney] passed, there was so much negativity around the name. It wasn’t about the music any more … It’s been quite emotional for the past seven years. But now it’s about being strategic.”
Lawrence Mestel of Primary Wave said that Houston’s name and likeness would be used sensitively: “We wouldn’t do a fast-food brand relationship.” The company has acquired the rights to other heritage artists, including Bob Marley, Smokey Robinson and Paul Anka. It is also planning a hologram tour of late Canadian pianist Glenn Gould with Eyellusion, despite Gould disliking live concerts.
Collecting or love Whitney Houston’s music? Find rare and out of print Vinyl Records & CDs here at eil.com
EIL.COM Favourite Music Update Rare CDs, CD Singles, Rare Records, Vinyl Records, Albums and Music
- Whitney Houston - Greatest Hits - Japanese - 2-CD album set - £34.99, $43.74, €39.19 (New Item) (arrived 12-Jan-2021 17:41)on January 19, 2021 at 1:52 pm
WHITNEY HOUSTON Greatest Hits (2000 Japanese 35-track double CD set including new track Could I Have That Kiss Forever + I Will Always Love You Hex Hector Mix, Greatest Love Club 69 Mix etc - housed in a limited edition outer slipcase picturesleeve complete with extenisve lyric booklet)
- Whitney Houston - How Will I Know - UK - 12" vinyl - £10.00, $12.50, €11.20 (New Item) (arrived 28-Dec-2020 10:44)on January 19, 2021 at 1:52 pm
WHITNEY HOUSTON How Will I Know (1986 UK 12" vinyl single, also including Someone For Me [Remix Version], housed in the glossy picture sleeve. The sleeve shows only minor wear and the vinyl looks barely played ARIST12656)
- Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston - German - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.75, €16.80 (Back In Stock) (arrived 17-Dec-2020 08:53)on January 19, 2021 at 1:52 pm
WHITNEY HOUSTON Whitney Houston (1985 German 10-track vinyl LP including the classic hit singles How Will I Know, The Greatest Love Of All and Saving All My Love For You. The glossy picture sleeve shows a little edge wear, and the vinyl remains in excellent condition with few signs of play)
- Whitney Houston - The Preacher's Wife - Japanese - CD album - £20.00, $25.00, €22.40 (New Item) (arrived 16-Dec-2020 17:12)on January 19, 2021 at 1:52 pm
WHITNEY HOUSTON The Preacher's Wife (2006 Japanese 15-track CD, featuring the music from the soundtrack to the movie, complete with obi-strip BVCM37778)
- Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston - German - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.75, €16.80 (New Item) (arrived 15-Dec-2020 12:33)on January 19, 2021 at 1:52 pm
WHITNEY HOUSTON Whitney Houston (1985 German 10-track vinyl LP including the classic hit singles How Will I Know, The Greatest Love Of All and Saving All My Love For You. The glossy picture sleeve shows a little edge wear, and the vinyl remains in excellent condition with few signs of play)
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