http://www.dailyamericannews.com/features/x740685130/Area-singer-bids-farewell-to-Whitney-HoustonWEST FRANKFORT —
The news of Whitney Houston's death has dominated news headlines across the country in recent weeks and media coverage of her funeral over the weekend was viewed coast-to-coast. Fans around mourned the loss of Houston, who is widely considered one of the most gifted songstresses of all time.
But for Three Angels Broadcasting Network's Yvonne Lewis, the treasured pop singer's untimely passing was tragic for a more personal reason. Lewis has been a friend of the Houston family for thirty years and she described Whitney's death as the loss not only of an immense talent, but also a wonderful, magnificent woman.
"She was a treasure, a sweetheart," said Lewis.
Lewis, along with 3ABN founder Danny Shelton, were among the mourners at Houston's Saturday funeral in New Jersey paying their respects to the legendary artist and allowing Lewis to lend a comforting hand to her confidant, Cissy Houston, Whitney's mother.
"I met Cissy Houston at a session," said Lewis. "Luther Vandross, he was my best friend for years, he would tell me about Cissy and how she did this and that at a session. Well, he had a session and Cissy and I were both on it and we just developed an instant friendship."
After the pair hit it off as friends, Lewis was eventually presented with the opportunity to sing backup studio vocals for Cissy's rising star daughter—young Whitney. Lewis made several appearances on Whitney's 1985 self-titled debut album—including the number-one single, "How Will I Know"—that ended up selling 25 million copies worldwide, one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Having met Whitney prior to her mega stardom, Lewis said the eventual pop sensation was an absolute joy from day one and very close-knit with her mother.
"Cissy called me to do a few gigs with Whitney as a background singer," said Lewis. "Whitney wasn't Whitney Houston at that point, she was still just ‘Nippy’ working with her mom at the sessions. She was wonderful to work with and her attitude was perfect. She was just her mom's little girl. Even as she was becoming Whitney, she was her mom's baby."
In the years since working with Whitney, Lewis has periodically stayed in contact with Cissy and, just as mothers do, they always spoke about each other's children.