The music industry is hemorrhaging right now. The loss of a voice and talent like Whitney Houston is indescribeable. And unfortunately, she is not the only loss. Within the last five years, music has lost artists who changed the paradigm with their unique sound and left an indellible mark. Let’s review:

1. Michael Jackson
2. Etta James
3. Heavy D
4. Teena Marie…

If we go back a bit farther:

5.    Luther Vandross
6.    Teddy Pendergrass
7.    Rick James… 

This is sad in itself, but for music lovers there are only a select few artists today who have the God-given talent to take us higher.