Very few people attain iconic status in their lifetimes. Without a doubt, Whitney Houston is one deserving of the title. Her work in music and on-screen have made her likeness well-known to almost anyone in the world. This autumn Houston’s estate will release an official tribute book honoring her life and career.

Whitney: Tribute to an Icon will feature over 100 images of the star from several photographers like Patrick Demarchelier and David LaChapelle. In addition, many important figures in the music industry like Clive Davis will write essays and contribute to the overall styling of the book. Whitney will offer a timeline of Houston’s style and music but an intimate portrait of her previously unseen moments. To see how Houston embodies her “iconic” title, be sure to check out the book expected in late November.

August 29th, 2012 would have been Michael Jackson’s 54th birthday. Although many of his fans honor the death of the idol, more and more they’ve been celebrating his birth and life. Devotees returned in droves to the King of Pop’s birthplace in Gary, Indiana, this year joined by Jackson’s children for the occasion. Though there were some more solemn aspects of the celebration, this year has in fact been momentous for the idol.  From the start of Cirque Du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour to rumors of a MJ hologram debuting soon, Jackson’s presence can still be seen and felt around us.

Amy Winehouse burst onto the musical scene in the mid-2000s with her catchy anthems like “Rehab” or “Back to Black.” During her years of success, Winehouse’s struggles with substance abuse became fodder for tabloids and media throughout the world. Despite her negative press, the singer’s career still thrived making her one of the top artists of the decade.

With the recent deaths of Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse, much attention has been on the  role of drug and alcohol use in society. A recent government publication in the UK notes that there has been a dramatic decrease in drug use since 1996. What’s causing this decrease? While some government programs has assisted in this drop, the decline has been assisted by popular culture. With figures such as Winehouse passing away from drugs, the glamour often mistakenly associated with their use is being replaced with grisly reality.

http://gu.com/p/39be7/em

Nirvana and their lead singer Kurt Cobain are iconic representations of the 1990s. Cobain’s stripped down and raw music breathed a new life into rock music. His artistry and passion for the craft are still relevant in musical discussions almost 20 years after his death.

When thinking about Cobain and Nirvana, many think of the final days and untimely death of the lead singer. In contrast to this, author Gillian Gaar focuses on the formation and early life of the artist and band in Entertain Us: The Rise of Nirvana. Using a combination of archival materials and interviews with those around the band at the time, Garr is offers the reader an out of the ordinary take on Cobain’s life and the band’s formation. Just because the book takes place in the early years, don’t think the book isn’t full of action and intrigue (including the tumultuous relationship between Cobain and wife Courtney Love)!

 Whitney Houston is the one of our idols who is most recently departed. Her musical stylings from the dance hit “How Will I Know?” to her epic rendition of “I Will Always Love You” for the Bodyguard soundtrack are known by almost everyone. Although departed, Houston is currently appearing her final onscreen performance “Sparkle.”

“Sparkle” is a remake of the 1976 movie of the same name. In this role, Houston plays the mother of a group of girls attempting to make it as a singing group in the Motown scene of 1960s  Detroit. Although a supporting character, Houston’s Emma echoes her own issues with drugs an alcohol. Despite these jarring similarities, Houston delivers one of her last powerful onscreen performances of  “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” For any fan of her music or life, “Sparkle” offers that chance to see Houston in true form.

In our first post, we’re going to look at the beloved Pop powerhouse that was Michael Jackson. Jackson who is known for both his early work with the Jackson 5 and epic solo career has become almost more myth than man. We’ve all heard many stories about his familial relations, changing appearances, and mystery surrounding his death (all of topics worth blogs in their own right).

With all of the intrigue surrounding Jackson, many authors have taken to sharing accounts of the singer’s life. Recently, Jackson’s brother Jermaine has written a new, more private, memoir about Michael. You Are Not Alone: Michael: Through a Brother’s Eyes addresses many of the myths that we associate with Jackson. Instead of feeding into this super persona, Jermaine Jackson tries to provide the reader with a more subtle behind-the-scenes version of the icon.

For those interested in some things a little different than You Are Not Alone, keep your eyes out for Randall Sullivan’s Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson debuting in November 2012. Sullivan’s biography will address many of those myths that still captivate the public including Jackson’s father and the courtroom drama.