by Asondra R. Hunter

When I heard Whitney Houston, then a relatively unknown singer on the scene, performing the hit single "You Give Good Love" on the Merv Griffin show back in the early '80s, I wasn't sure if she had all the necessary ingredients to become an international superstar -- one who would sell over 100 million albums and become one of America's highest box office grossing actresses -- but by the time she reached the song's chorus, I knew that she had single handily discovered the missing link between soul and pop music.

Using the song as an audible vehicle to transport the notion of happiness into our minds for years to come -- sounding like no other -- Whitney and her co-writers paid attention to crucial rudiments like song structure and elocution. The accidental amalgamation between the two genres of music afforded her the luxury of fame when the concept was completely unfathomable.

As a teen, Whitney sang primarily for God in her local church choir in Newark, N.J. So the fact that a dainty little lady, coming from a strict religious upbringing, could convey such rousing feelings of passion, as seen through a weathered woman's eyes, was engaging borderline unbelief. But most importantly, this divergence, through song, was an appreciated digression from the techo-punk junk that her mainstream counterparts were preferring on the radio. Her voice, combined with her stage presence, started to make me think that she just might have enough talent and fortitude to finagle her 5'9" frame into stardom's discerning clutches -- even in a business that cleaves good intentions, but more often than not, gnaws at mental peace, consumes all fragments of patience and exterminates any hint of privacy.

During an interview at a mid-Manhattan hotel, the former model gleefully talked about stardom, upcoming projects and motherhood. It's the latter that seems to be keeping her teetering closer toward acceptance of her many roles. The vivacious vocalist, now 33, has been intermittently in the studio finishing up the last few original recordings for her greatest hits package that's scheduled to be released this spring. When she gets time to contemplate completing other projects, she's going to carve a big enough crevice in her schedule so that recording a gospel album can become a reality.

Like a strobe light focused on it's subject, Whitney's saltwater pearl, aligned teeth brings attention to her pleasant round face. Not surprisingly, it's her endearing personality; not her looks that keeps fans spellbound. Whitney has managed to parlay her stellar singing voice into a successful acting career without much formal training. Right out of the starting block she got the chance to work with Kevin Costner in "The Bodyguard," and most recently we watched her assume the coveted co-starring role alongside Denzel Washington during a seven-month long shoot of "The Preacher's Wife."

Some of the skills she's procured as an actress are being used at her self-titled production company. Right now she's getting ready to turn Monique Jellerette Dejongh's colorful book, "How To Marry A Black Man," into a major motion picture. "From acting in films I know what goes on production-wise and that's a blessing in itself. When I get some time I'd like to read some of the screenplays that have been sent to my company. I want mainstream America to learn about a wider variety of subjects -things that they may not ordinarily get to see because Hollywood has a way of endorsing only certain projects. And there's been a lot of talk about me bringing Dorothy Dandridge's story to the screen. I’d like to do that, too, because she was a remarkable lady," says Whitney.

Who would be a better lead for a film about the "Carmen Jones" star than Whitney herself. Both women are avid filmgoers with inherent charm; something that can't be taught in charm school. Both have an intimate relationship with adversity, and unlike Dandridge who is no longer alive to see how much impact she's had on America cinema, Whitney keeps giving us different parts of herself. "When I chose to do "The Bodyguard," I felt that it was a good move because, like the character, I'm a singer and I knew how she must have felt. In "Waiting to Exhale", I took the part because it was a good book, and it portrayed African-American women in a positive light. We all have relationships, so everyone could relate to what we were trying to say. But, I don't know if I would star in a film about Dorothy because maybe my contribution could be better served if I was a producer instead of an actress." Whitney contemplates.

After taking a sip of water, the regal fidgets with a button on her suit jacket then stares intently into lace before letting her thoughts escape. She admits, "I know that I to produce the film because had an interesting life. I know how it feels to be under pressure. I know how it feels to have people pulling on you from all directions, and I know that there is a shortage of good available roles for black women. So if Hollywood doesn't offer Oscar-caliber roles to me, I'll create them myself."

The thought of the disproportionate roles for black actresses in the film industry brings an upside down moon grimace to an otherwise happy face. Finally, after digging deep to find the right words to express her exasperation, she says, "1 don't want to talk about the subject because it makes me angry. There are so many talented black actresses out there who could be starring in roles, but they're not given the opportunity."

So then what made her plunge in front of the camera in the first place? "1 like acting," she admits, "but it's a lot of work, and it can be so physically draining. Right now I'm in the studio finishing up a new album. Recording and touring is the hardest part about singing. When I'm singing for an audience, I give them all I have to offer and then go home. When you're on the set of a film, you come up where you left off... day after day. When I did "The Preacher's Wife," I wore myself out because Penny (Marshall) is a demanding director. I don't know if I'm ready to do that again just yet, because I like to spend time with my family. Sometimes I just want to relax with my daughter and my husband, and it seems as though that's so hard to do when I have so many projects that I'd like to do."

Family means a lot to the doting mom and faithful wife, who still lives close to her own mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston. And even though her hometown of Newark inspired the car jacking film "New Jersey Drive," Whitney says she can't think of a better place to grow up. "I love my hometown. It wasn't violent or rough, and if it was in certain parts, I didn't see that. All I saw was a community of people just trying to make it. It's filled with warm family memories about spending time with loved ones. On Sundays the whole family would go to church and hear the word of God. It was inspiring, and when we got home from church you could still feel the love that we talked about earlier that day. God's messages are just that powerful."

Because of her busy schedule, she doesn't go to church as often as she'd like to, but she does spend time with her immediate family- husband Bobby Brown and their daughter Bobbi Kristina. Without them, success and all that accompanies it wouldn't mean a thing. So just how does she find the time to give back to the community? She donates money, when time won't permit, to many national children's charities. Realizing the importance of saving our youth from despair and self-destruction, in 1989, she formed the Whitney Houston Foundation For Children, Inc., a nonprofit organization geared to protecting our country's most valuable asset. In recent years, the organization has provided homeless children with shelter and has aided children afflicted with cancer and AIDS.