Black Tennis Pros

Horrible, tragic, sad, unbelievable... the death of Whitney Houston in indescribably devastating.  Ms. Houston's over abundance of talent in her gifted voice from God blessed many of our lives including my own.

At the beginning of her career, I witnessed the sheer beauty of her voice. It was difficult to believe the clarity and perfection that I was hearing. I will never forget the moment that she opened her mouth and mesmerized the audience for that moment in time.



Los Angeles (CNN) -- Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston was found dead Saturday at a Beverly Hills, California, hotel, officials said. She was 48.

The entertainer, whose incredible talent was discovered at an early age, was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. ET) at the Beverly Hilton hotel despite resuscitation efforts, a police spokesman said.

Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent" and that the cause of her death is being investigated.

Remarks from friends and others:

— "First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all. Second, I would like to say, I love you Whitney. The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage." — Houston's ex-husband Bobby Brown, performing a show in Southaven, Miss., hours after her death.

— "I am devastated by the loss of Whitney. We have lost a true angel. My prayers, my heart goes out to her family. We have lost an extraordinary voice to the world. " — singer Lionel Richie.

— "Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed." — Dolly Parton, who wrote the original version of "I Will Always Love you," which Houston later sang for the film "The Bodyguard."

— "She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us." — Barbra Streisand

— "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth." — Mariah Carey, in messages posted on Twitter

— "I've known Whitney since she was a little girl and I loved her. She was like family to me. I will miss her." — Smokey Robinson

— "Whitney was the reason many of us do what we do." — Pink, in a Twitter post

— "At the apex of her career, Whitney had no peer, with a voice that shaped a generation. She has left behind a musical and film legacy that will endure.... she will be sorely missed by us all." — Bishop T.D. Jakes, producer of Houston's final film project, a remake of the movie "Sparkle."

— "I think her contribution was her excellence of all levels. She was outstandingly gorgeous, an excellent performer ... Excellent vocalist. She was excellent on some many levels, and set the standard for what it is to be a great female artist." — India.Arie

— "She blessed us with so much greatness in songs that we can never ever forget her." — Producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who worked with Houston