Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, model and producer. She is a global figure in popular culture and one of the greatest recording artists of all time. Houston began singing in church as a child and became a background vocalist while in high school. She is best known for her hit singles including "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "I Will Always Love You". Houston is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide.