Tribute to Pop Music's Queen, Whitney Houston died young at 48. Music world lost a majestic voice, which will never be forgotten

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LOS ANGELES - Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outside the Beverly Hilton that Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. in her room on the fourth floor of the hotel. Her body remained there and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.

"There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent at this time," Rosen said. Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said Saturday that the cause of her death was unknown.

Rosen said police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 p.m. Saturday. Paramedics who were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, he said. Houston's death came on the eve of music's biggest night -- the Grammy Awards. It's a showcase where she once reigned, and her death was sure to cast a heavy pall on Sunday's ceremony.

Her longtime mentor Clive Davis was to hold his annual concert and dinner Saturday, and a representative of the show said it would proceed. Houston was supposed to appear at the gala, and Davis had told The Associated Press that she would perhaps perform: "It's her favorite night of the year ... (so) who knows by the end of the evening," he said. Producer Jimmy Jam, who had worked with Houston, said he anticipated the evening would become a tribute to her, and he expected there to be one at the Grammys as well.

Stars react to Whitney Houston's death: Mariah Carey is 'heartbroken'; Al Sharpton calls her 'a gifted songbird' LOS ANGELES reactions to Whitney Houston's death Saturday in Beverly Hills at age 48 -

— "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.

— "A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice." — Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy.

Hollywood celebrities' mysterious deaths -

Whitney Houston Family Told She Died from Rx NOT Drowning
We're told Coroner's officials informed the family there was not enough water in Whitney's lungs to lead to the conclusion that she drowned. Our sources say the family was told Whitney may well have died before her head became submerged.
And family sources tell us... it was actually Whitney's aunt, Mary Jones, who discovered Whitney's body in the bathtub. Mary had laid out Whitney's dress for the evening on the bed and then left for about a half hour. When Whitney didn't come out of the bathroom, Mary entered, pulled Whitney out of the tub and began administering CPR.

[Jan 24, 2008] Heath Ledger's death mystery
Ledger's former fiancee, actress Michelle Williams, and their two-year-old daughter returned to their New York home late today. The distraught Williams, 27, was being comforted by family and friends in the Brooklyn home she formerly shared with Ledger. She and Matilda ignored the waiting media pack and went straight into the home after flying in from Stockholm. She had been filming the movie Mammoth in Sweden when she was told of Ledger's death.

Autopsy inconclusive
Tests on a rolled-up $20 note found near the actor's bed detected no drug residue, the New York Police Department said today. The discovery of the note had raised the prospect that Ledger might have been snorting drugs, but the negative test diminished that possibility.

He was no addict: director
Lee Daniels, producer of Monster's Ball in which Ledger had a supporting role, said he did not believe Ledger had a drug problem. "I didn't see him as a drug addict. I saw him as someone who enjoyed life. I know drug addicts, he was not a drug addict.'' Daniels said he saw Ledger a couple months ago and he was in great spirits. "He was in a good mood, he was in a great place ... he was excited about living in New York.''

[July 14, 2012] Sage Stallone's Attorney Speaks Out: "Sage Wasn't Anyone Trying to Take His Life"
Sage Stallone's death was a surprise to all who knew him, and reports he may have overdosed are even more surprising, according to his attorney and longtime friend George Braunstein. The 36-year-old son of Sylvester Stallone was found dead in his Los Angeles home by his housekeeper on Friday, after friends and family had difficulty reaching him.

"He was very creative, energetic and very full of life," Braunstein told E! News on Saturday. "We were just joking about how he was going to get married and have a fun marriage. There Sage Stallone's was nothing dark or depressing, no problems, certainly no financial problems."

[July 29, 2012] Team-roper Broc Cresta dead at 25
Petaluma's Broc Cresta, a team roper who competed in the National Finals Rodeo the last two years, was found dead Saturday in his living quarters trailer at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association said. The PRCA said the cause of death wasn't known.

Cresta was the 2007 PRCA Rookie Heeler of the Year. He teamed with header Turtle Powell in the 2010 NFR and with Spencer Mitchell last year. Cresta also teamed with Logan Olson to win the Cheyenne title in 2009. “The whole rodeo world is in shock,” PRCA communications director Kendra Santos said. “My phone's been ringing off the wall all day with calls from Hall of Famers on down to little kids.

“Broc's a fourth-generation cowboy in California, and everybody loves him. It's hard enough to lose a good cowboy when he's 90, but losing such a talented and genuinely good person at 25 is just about impossible. Our hearts are with Broc's family and friends. The entire rodeo family hurts right now.”

The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle newspaper in Cheyenne reported an autopsy would be conducted in Loveland, Colo., and the results could take four to six weeks. The paper reported Cresta's team roping partner, Mitchell, said Cresta was found by Cresta's girlfriend, barrel racer Brittany Pozzi, at about 11 a.m. She screamed for help and about 20 people rushed over to the trailer, including Mitchell, the paper said. Cresta was unresponsive. “Nobody really knows what happened,” Mitchell, who grew up in Healdsburg, told the paper.

The Tribune-Eagle reported Cresta, the 14th-ranked team roping heeler in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, had roped professionally since 2007 with more than $350,000 in career earnings. This season, he had a little more than $42,000 in earnings.

*update* March 14, 2013 Movie executive Gavin Smith missing since his May'12 disappearance was found Feb'13 in a storage locker In the months after Smith was last seen, officials insisted the case remained a missing persons investigation, even as Creech’s home and vehicle were searched.

Smith, a former UCLA basketball player who worked in Fox's movie distribution department, left a friend's home in Ventura County's Oak Park neighborhood the night of May 1. Wearing purple athletic pants belonging to one of his sons, Smith drove away in his Mercedes, leaving behind his cellphone charger, shaving kit and other items.

Numerous searches of the area were conducted after Smith disappeared and his family posted a $20,000 reward. A tip leading investigators to the storage facility where Smith’s car was recovered. The locker was registered to Creech, Dolson said, but to someone close to him.

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Photos courtesy Warner Bros.